Attendance
At AIM North London we want all of our pupils to have an excellent attendance record as we are aware that there is a high correlation between school attendance and academic performance and success.
Attendance is checked every morning and afternoon for every pupil.
In order to support the Academy we request that parents / carers contact us before 8am to report an absence by telephoning 0208 443 8500 or emailing info@aimnorthlondon.org.uk
We encourage you to read our Attendance Policy, which can be found here.
Why is attendance important?
Having a good education will help give your child the best possible start in life. If your child does not attend school regularly, they will not be able to keep up with the work.
Excellent attendance is key to being successful at school. Going to school is directly linked to improved exam performance which should in turn lead to further learning opportunities and better career prospects.
As well as this, going to school helps to develop:
- Social skills
- Life skills
- Communication skills
- Cultural awareness
- Career pathways
What does the law say?
By law all children between the ages of 5 and 18 must receive full time education, from the beginning of the term following their 5th birthday to the last Friday in June of the academic year in which they reach their 18th birthday.
During that time, the school must give permission for your child to be absent.
Pupil attendance at school is compulsory. It is the parents' duty to ensure that their child attends regularly where the child is a registered pupil.
It is the Academy's responsibility to record attendance and punctuality, and to follow up absences. We have the ability to issue sanctions, including fixed penalty notices, in line with local authorities' codes of conduct.
Absence from school
Being absent from school can have a detrimental effect on your child's academic progress due to missed learning. This is particularly noticeable when holidays are taken at the beginning of a new year or during the term. The introduction to new knowledge is missed putting the absent child at a clear disadvantage. In addition, whilst the rest of their peers are settling in and forming new relationships, an absent child usually takes longer to catch up and settle as part of the class when they do return to school.
What can I do to help my child and the school?
Make sure your child goes to school every day, arrives on time and attends all lessons.
If your child is ill, contact the school on the first day of illness. This should be followed up on their return with a letter stating the reason for absence and dates affected.
Take an interest in your child's school work and experiences.
If your child starts missing school, work with the school to put things right. Make sure they understand that you do not approve of them missing school.
Try to book non-urgent doctor/dental appointments before or after school.
Do not take holidays during term time. Holidays during term time are only authorised in exceptional circumstances and any application must be made in advance and supported by evidence. If the absence is not authorised it will be referred to our Education Welfare Officer who may issue a Penalty Notice.
What if i'm concerned about my child's attendance?
If you are concerned about where your child is you can contact the school to check if they have arrived. If you would like to discuss how we can improve your child's attendance please contact your child's Head of Year or Ms Samuel (d.samuel@aimnorthlondon.org.uk)
For more information please read what the Government says about Attendance here (Working Together to Improve Attendance) and here (Responsibilities for Attendance).
