Full attendance is extremely important to each student’s success and we expect students to attend fully during term time.  Where unauthorised holiday is taken, this is referred to the Education Welfare Service and a Penalty Notice may be issued.  Please consult the School Attendance Policy at the bottom of this page.

Please contact, the school Attendance Officer,  Miss Bates (vbates@st-pauls.leicester.sch.uk) if you wish to discuss attendance or absences.

Being on Time

Students should arrive at school by 8.45am.

For whatever reason, if a student is late and misses registration, as soon as they arrive in school they must go to the school office to sign the late sheet. It is essential that we know who is in school in case of emergency.

A student who arrives late before the register has closed will be marked as late, using the appropriate code (L).  After the register has closed, students will be marked as absent, using the appropriate code (U).  Punctuality is monitored on a daily basis.  Students that are late to school twice in a week will receive a C2 after school detention, three times late, will incur a 1 hour after school detention, whilst students who are late to class, receive sanctions on Arbor.  Parents/carers may be asked to attend a meeting with their child’s Head of Year, Senior Leader or the Principal if lateness persists and becomes a concern. Persistent lateness will incur further sanctions.  If a student is late because of a medical appointment, evidence of the appointment will be needed. A dated appointment card will suffice.

Any students who are not in school by 9.00am when registers close and we have not been informed of the reason, will receive a text home from the Attendance Officer.

What do I do if my child is unwell and cannot attend school?

At St Paul’s we take the attendance of your child at school very seriously. However, in the case of genuine illness, please telephone the school office on 0116 2414057, Option 1 ‘Absences’, before 9am. If your child is ill for more than one day, it is important that you ring school each morning, that they are not well enough to attend.

Leave of Absence
The law states that schools should not authorise leave of absence unless an application has been made in advance by the parent with whom the pupil normally resides. The Principal will only grant a leave of absence to a pupil during term time if they consider there to be ‘exceptional circumstances’. A leave of absence is granted at the Principal’s discretion, including the length of time the pupil is authorised to be absent for.
The school considers each application for term-time absence individually, taking into account the specific facts, circumstances and relevant context behind the request.  For clarity, taking holidays in term time, visiting relatives abroad, attending weddings and a variety of other such activities are classed as unauthorised absence.
Any request should be submitted as soon as it is anticipated and, where possible, at least 2 weeks before the absence
The Principal may require evidence to support any request for leave of absence.  Please avoid booking holidays unless you have received written confirmation from us that your request is agreed.

As of 19th August 2024, the National Framework for Penalty Notices came into effect for unauthorised absences:

If your child has unauthorised leave of absence, you may either be issued with a Penalty Notice of £160 per parent per child (discounted to £80 per parent, per child, if paid within 21 days)

These Penalty Notice fines will be used for both first and second offences.  In the event of a third (and any further) offence within 3 years there will be no fine but the case will proceed to the Magistrates’ court.  Magistrates’ fines can be up to £2,500 per parent per child

Penalty Notices will apply if a pupil has been absent for 5 or more consecutive days, or for fewer days if this has happened before

Penalty Notices will be considered if a pupil has been absent for 10 sessions (a session is a half day) in a 10-week period

Issuing of Penalty Notices are not the decision of the Principal, the school, or the Trust, they are nationally regulated by the Government.  No money is received by the school or the Trust in relation to these fines.

Penalty Notices for Unauthorised Absences

Leave of Absence Request Form

Attendance Policy