ST ALOYSIUS'
COLLEGE
SCHOOL HANDBOOK
ATTENDANCE and ABSENCE
Attendance
Pupils are required to attend classes throughout the school year on all the days that the school is in session. Older pupils in the Junior School and Senior School pupils will also, from time to time or on a regular basis, be required to attend after-school and weekend activities including sporting fixtures and training sessions. Parents must understand that there is a regular and recurrent commitment beyond the school day for many pupils which is an essential part of education at the College and the building up of the school as a community. Sometimes these commitments will conflict with family and other demands and, in such situations, parents are asked to ensure that requests to be excused from school activities are not lightly made.
Family holidays should be arranged to occur during school holidays. Parents are asked to make every effort to avoid taking children away from school in term time, especially at the end of terms as this is a time when important whole-school events are held. The College already has generous holidays and further time can only damage a pupil's education and frequently also makes the running of normal classes difficult for the pupils who remain.
Where it is impossible to avoid taking a holiday in term time, requests must be made in writing to the pupil's Housemaster (or Head of Section in the Junior School) in good time. The school will usually be sympathetic to reasonable requests.
However, parents are required by law to ensure they provide "efficient" and "suitable" education for their child "by causing him to attend school regularly" (Education (Scotland) Act 1980) and the school has discretion to allow or refuse requests for absence. We are likely to refuse permission when:
- we are simply informed that a child will be absent (i.e. no request is made and the school is given no opportunity of putting any concerns it may have to the parents)
- little or no notice is given, or a note of excuse is sent after the event
- a pupil has a poor record of attendance or achievement
- the school judges any further absence likely to have an adverse effect on the child's education
If the school refuses permission, any subsequent absence will be recorded in the attendance register as truancy condoned by the parents. Persistent unauthorised absence will be referred to the school attendance officer of the local authority in which the child lives and may also lead to parents being asked to withdraw the child from the school.
When a pupil is absent due to illness or for some other reason, parents are asked to 'phone the school with this information on the first day the pupil is away.
Pupils who have been absent must bring an absence note to school with them on the day they return. The note must be signed by a parent and include the dates and reason for absence. The note is to be addressed to the appropriate Housemaster and handed in at afternoon registration. In the Junior School, the note is to be given to the Class Teacher.
Absence for medical or dental appointments
Where a parent knows in advance that their child will need time off school for a medical or other appointment, the pupil should bring a note to school before the absence. In the Senior School, the Housemaster will then issue a permission slip, giving permission for the pupil to leave class at the necessary time.
Time off school for activities
Parents sometimes request time off for their child to participate in theatre rehearsals, sports fixtures, and other one-off activities. Provided the child has a good record of attendance and academic progress, and provided the child does not have school commitments, we are usually happy to allow absence for such reasons as these activities can be of significant benefit for a child. Parents should request absence in writing in good time.
Absence in Sixth Year
A system of self-certification is used with Sixth Year pupils, whereby they complete a form giving reasons for or requesting absence. This system is based on trust and Sixth Year pupils who are frequently absent or absent without adequate cause are putting their future at the College in jeopardy.
Senior School pupils must register (by electronic swipe-card) before 8.55am and be in their classrooms for the first lesson when the 9.00am bell goes. Registration at or after 8.55am is considered late. Frequent latecomers will be required to report for Early Book registration before 8.30am and are likely to incur a detention after three lates in a two-week period.
S1-5 pupils are required to register by swiping during the lunch break and to attend afternoon registration at designated locations.
Pupils who persistently fail to register will face disciplinary action.
Pupils who have forgotten their swipe cards can register at reception.
Lost or damaged cards must be replaced quickly and may be bought from reception.