At Wath Academy, all students are expected to be in school in good time for Period 1. Please note the following AM registration times: -

• All students are expected to arrive on site before 8:20 am at which point the school gates will close.
• Students arriving after this time will be given a late mark for AM registration and issued with a same day C3 detention.

Good punctuality is essential for students to make the most of their learning opportunities. Students who are regularly late to lesson or that are found to be truanting lessons will face appropriate sanctions e.g. late report card / detentions.

It is the responsibility of everyone in our academy to teach students the skills they will need in adult life. Encouraging and promoting good attendance and punctuality are vital aspects of our duties. Students must understand that consistent absences or lateness can negatively impact their future job prospects or college placements. Our goal is to instil a sense of responsibility in our students and help them establish positive patterns for their future. Parents also play a crucial role in supporting this endeavour.

At Wath Academy, we recognise and reward good attendance and punctuality. However, if any circumstances arise that might prevent your child from attending, establishing good communication links with us is essential. This allows us to address any issues promptly and ensure your child can resume their learning at the academy as soon as possible.

For more information, you can download our Attendance Policy or get in touch with the Attendance Team. They are always happy to answer any questions you may have.

The Principal (or someone authorised by them), Local Authority or the police can fine parents/carers for the unauthorised absence of their child from school, where the child is of compulsory school age, by issuing a penalty notice. If the Academy issues a penalty notice, it will check with the Local Authority before doing so and send it a copy of any penalty notice issued. Before issuing a penalty notice, the Academy will consider the individual case, including: 

 Reviewed: September 2025  

• Whether the national threshold for considering a penalty notice has been met (10 sessions of unauthorised absence in a rolling period of 10 school weeks) 
• Whether a penalty notice is the best available tool to improve attendance for that student 
• Whether further support, a notice to improve or another legal intervention would be a more appropriate solution 
• Whether any obligations that the school has under the Equality Act 2010 make issuing a penalty notice inappropriate 

Each parent/carer who is liable for the student’s offence(s) can be issued with a penalty notice, but this will usually only be the parent/carers who allowed the absence. 

The payment must be made directly to the Local Authority, regardless of who issues the notice. If the payment has not been made after 28 days, the Local Authority can decide whether to prosecute or withdraw the notice. 

If issued with a first penalty notice, the parent/carer must pay £80 within 21 days, or £160 within 28 days. 

If a second penalty notice is issued to the same parent/carer in respect of the same student, the parent/carer must pay £160 if paid within 28 days. 

A third penalty notice cannot be issued to the same parent/carer in respect of the same child within 3 years of the date of the issue of the first penalty notice. In a case where the national threshold is met for a third time within those 3 years, alternative action will be taken instead.

It is important to be aware that the Academy is unlikely to approve an absence for a holiday during term time.

According to the law, parents do not have the right to take their child out of school for holidays while the school term is ongoing.

The Principal is not allowed to authorise any absence from school unless there are exceptional circumstances.

If you believe that there are exceptional circumstances warranting your child's absence from school, you must apply in advance by writing to the Principal using our Leave of Absence Request Form. In your request, clearly explain the dates and reasons for the leave of absence.

If the Academy declines your request for leave of absence, and you still choose to take your child out of school, please be aware that this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence, which will be noted in your child's record.

In such cases, you may also receive a Fixed Penalty Notice for the period of absence. Fines are issued to parents and carers at a cost of £60 per child, per parent, if paid within 14-days of issuance.

Please take note that all absences on the last week of the term will be considered unauthorised unless supported by medical evidence. Such unauthorised absences may contribute to the fining process.

We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring your child's regular attendance at school, which plays a vital role in their academic progress and overall development.

At Wath Academy, we firmly believe in the value of regular school attendance and the significant role it plays in fostering academic success and personal development for our students. As an educational institution, we adhere to the Department for Education's guidance on attendance, ensuring that our students receive the best possible educational experience. This guide aims to provide parents with a clear understanding of the difference between authorised and unauthorised absence, the reasons for our decision-making, and the steps we take to support students' attendance.

Authorised Absence

Authorised absence refers to any instance where a student's absence from school has been approved by the school in advance. We understand that certain circumstances may arise that require students to be absent from school, and we are committed to considering such situations with empathy and fairness. The reasons we may authorise absence include, but are not limited to:

1. Illness: When a student is unwell and unable to attend school, we request that parents inform us as soon as possible. Medical evidence, such as a doctor's note, may be required for extended absences.
2. Medical Appointments: Sometimes, students may need to attend medical appointments that cannot be scheduled outside of school hours. In such cases, we encourage parents to provide us with the appointment details in advance.
3. Family Bereavement: We understand that the loss of a loved one can be a challenging time for students and their families. With prior notification, we will authorise absence to allow for bereavement support.
4. Religious Observance: We respect and accommodate students' religious observances and may authorise absence for religious events and practices.

Unauthorised Absence

Unauthorised absence, on the other hand, refers to any absence where the school has not been notified in advance or the reasons provided do not meet our criteria for authorisation. It is essential to understand that unauthorised absence has a detrimental impact on a student's educational progress and can disrupt the learning environment for the entire class.

Monitoring Attendance

At Wath Academy, we closely monitor attendance records for all students. As attendance falls below 95%, we follow Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council's Student Attendance Matters Pathway to address any concerns effectively. This pathway involves collaboration with parents, students, and external agencies to identify and overcome any barriers to regular attendance.

Supporting Students and Parents/CARERS

We believe that strong communication between school and home is key to ensuring successful attendance. We actively encourage parents to communicate any issues affecting their child's attendance promptly. Our dedicated Attendance Team is always available to provide guidance and support to parents and students in addressing attendance challenges.

By working together, we can help our students build positive attendance habits, promote a love for learning, and achieve their full potential.

For further information on school attendance and support services, please refer to the Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council's website at School Attendance – Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council .

We thank all parents/carers for their cooperation and commitment to their child's education at Wath Academy. Together, we can create a thriving and inclusive learning community that empowers our students for a successful future.

Ensure that your child attends school regularly and arrives on time. Lateness can be very disruptive for the class and your child. If your child is late after registration closes, this will be counted as an unauthorised absence.

If your child is absent from school, you must either [Ideally before 8:20am or as early as you can on the first day of absence]:

• Phone the Academy Attendance line giving the reason for absence.
• Send a message using Class Charts.
• Call at the Academy, to notify them about the absence, the reason and expected return date.
• Provide medical evidence where absence is due to illness whenever possible.

The reasons your child should not be kept away from school include:

• Looking after brothers or sisters
• Minding the house
• Visiting relatives
• Long weekends
• Shopping trips
• Birthdays
• Holidays during term time

Please note: once your child’s attendance drops below 92% all further absences will be unauthorised unless you can provide evidence to the contrary, at which point we will authorise the absence (see our Attendance Policy for further information).

Please avoid making medical appointments within the school day. Where this cannot be avoided, please contact the school in advance, and where possible please come and collect your child from the Academy via our Reception.

For all attendance related issues please call our Attendance Team on 01709 760 222 Option 2. 

Working together with Wath Academy makes a difference for your child.

Help us to ensure that:

• We all are responsible for promoting our school culture and a positive community culture.
• Rules are observed.
• Students arrive in the correct uniform.
• Students arrive with their bags, planners, and writing utensils.
• Discipline and good behaviour are maintained.
• Other students and school staff are respected.
• All tasks and homework are completed.
• Our school buildings and facilities are cared for.

We will inform you of:

• The daily starting and finishing time.
• Term and holiday dates
• Other days when the school will be closed.
• Drops in attendance.
• Improvements in attendance.

We will inform you if:

• Your child is not attending.
• Your child is frequently late.
• Homework is not being completed.
• Unacceptable behaviour in school.
• Your child achieves an attendance reward or incentive.