Attendance & Punctuality
At The Quest Academy, we believe that attendance is fundamental to every student’s success. As Assistant Principal responsible for attendance, I am committed to ensuring that every student is in school, every day, and able to fully access their education.
We know that strong attendance not only supports academic progress, but also plays a vital role in students’ wellbeing, confidence and sense of belonging within our school community. Every lesson matters, and even small amounts of absence can have a lasting impact over time. Our approach to attendance is both supportive and structured. We work closely with students and families to identify and remove any barriers to attendance, while maintaining high expectations for all. Through our strong pastoral systems and staged approach, we ensure that concerns are addressed early and that the right support is put in place quickly.
At The Quest Academy, we pride ourselves on knowing our students as individuals. We are committed to working in partnership with families to ensure that every child feels safe, supported and able to thrive. If you have any concerns about your child’s attendance, please do not hesitate to get in touch – we are here to help.
Every Day Matters
At The Quest Academy, we believe that excellent attendance is essential to success. Students who attend school regularly are more likely to achieve well, develop positive relationships and benefit fully from the opportunities available to them. Attendance is not only linked to academic outcomes, but also to wellbeing, routine, confidence and long-term life chances. We therefore expect all students to attend every day, on time and ready to learn. Regular attendance is vital because learning is carefully sequenced and each lesson builds on prior knowledge. Absence can quickly lead to gaps in learning, reduced confidence and difficulty keeping up with the curriculum. Strong attendance also supports students’ wellbeing. Being in school every day helps young people feel connected, safe and part of the wider school community.
Our Expectations
We expect students to maintain strong attendance throughout the academic year. Our internal attendance processes begin when attendance falls below 95%, with increasing levels of support and intervention as attendance declines. We also place a strong emphasis on punctuality. Arriving on time helps students settle well, begin the day positively and avoid missing valuable learning.
How we Monitor and Support Attendance
At The Quest Academy, we use a staged model to monitor attendance and provide early, appropriate support. This approach ensures that concerns are identified quickly and that families receive the right level of guidance and intervention at the right time. The staged attendance cycle assigns responsibility to different staff as attendance declines and also allows movement back down the stages if attendance improves.
Stage 01: The Attendance Coordinator
When attendance falls between 93% and 95%, the Attendance Coordinator reviews the student’s attendance and sends a Stage 1 notification letter to parents or carers. This letter explains that attendance has dropped below the school’s expected level, reminds families of reporting procedures and offers support where barriers may be affecting attendance. At this stage, medical evidence is not routinely required, although it may be requested if illness absence becomes frequent or prolonged.
Stage 02: Pastoral Intervention
If attendance falls further to between 90% and 92%, a Pastoral Assistant contacts home and arranges a formal attendance meeting within three days. At this stage, an attendance contract is completed and targeted support is discussed. This may include strategies such as mentoring, a soft start, family early help, or other pastoral interventions designed to improve attendance and remove barriers to learning.
Stage 03: Senior Leadership Intervention
If attendance drops to between 87% and 89%, a meeting is held with the Head of Year or Assistant Principal. This follows the earlier pastoral meeting and attendance contract, which are reviewed and strengthened as needed. Additional support is considered, and families are asked to provide relevant evidence, such as medical documentation or appointment letters. If attendance declines further, the case may be referred onwards for more formal involvement.
Stage 04: Educational Welfare Officer Involvement
When attendance reaches 86% or below, the Educational Welfare Officer becomes involved. A formal meeting is arranged urgently, previous interventions are reviewed and further action may be considered in line with statutory guidance if attendance does not improve. At this stage, the school continues to work with families while also making clear the seriousness of continued absence.
Daily Monitoring and Safeguarding
Attendance is monitored daily as part of our safeguarding procedures. If a student is absent and the school has not received an explanation, follow-up contact will be made with parents or carers. The school’s O Code procedures require parents and carers to notify the school before 8:30am on the day of absence, and unexplained absences are logged and monitored. Continued unexplained absence may result in further contact or a formal meeting. This daily monitoring helps ensure that all students are safe, accounted for and supported.
Reporting an Absence
If your child is absent, parents and carers must contact the school on the first day of absence and provide a clear reason. For ongoing absence, the school expects daily updates unless another arrangement has been agreed. The Stage 1 letter states that absence should be reported by calling 0208 657 8935 or emailing [email protected], with the specific reason for the absence. Where absence relates to illness or a medical appointment, the school may request supporting evidence, particularly where absence is frequent, prolonged or already a cause for concern.
Working in Partnership with Families
We recognise that there can be many reasons why attendance becomes a concern. Our priority is always to understand the situation, support the student and work in partnership with families to improve attendance. Throughout each stage of the attendance process, our focus remains on early identification, strong communication and timely intervention. By working together, we can help every student attend regularly, feel supported and achieve their full potential. The operating procedures repeatedly emphasise that the aim is to work with families, remove barriers to attendance and ensure students are safe, supported and able to achieve their full potential.