Attendance and Punctuality
Students who attend regularly and arrive on time make stronger progress, form better relationships and are better prepared for life beyond school.
We ask all parents and carers to support our high expectations by ensuring that students are in school, on time, every day unless there is a genuine reason for absence.
We work closely with students and families to promote excellent attendance, remove barriers and make sure every young person benefits from a full and rich education.
Attending school really matters.
| Attendance during the school year | Days lost from school | Lessons missed |
|---|---|---|
| Attendance was 95% | 9 days | 50 lessons |
| Attendance was 90% | 19 days | 100 lessons |
| Attendance was 85% | 29 days | 150 lessons |
| Attendance was 80% | 38 days | 200 lessons |
| Attendance was 75% | 48 days | 250 lessons |
You can read more about our expectations and procedures in our Attendance Policy, available within the Key Information section of the website.
How to Report an Absence
If your child is too unwell to attend school, please:
- Call us on 01253 759854.
- Contact us before 8.45am.
- Provide your child's full name and the reason for their absence.
- Call us on each day that your child is absent.
For longer periods of absence or repeated illness, we may ask for medical evidence to support your child's attendance.
Keeping Students Safe
Safeguarding is a priority at Blackpool Skills Academy. If we have not been informed of an absence, our Family Support Worker will contact parents or carers to check the student's wellbeing.
This will happen on each day the student is absent, even when illness has previously been reported. We cannot assume that a student remains unwell unless we hear from a parent or carer each day.
Where necessary, we may follow up through further telephone calls, letters or a home visit to make sure the student is safe.
Please make sure that we always have your most up-to-date contact details.
Understanding Absence
Full information about the different types of absence can be found in our Attendance Policy.
Authorised Absence
An absence approved by the school because there is a valid reason, such as illness, a medical appointment or a family emergency.
Unauthorised Absence
An absence where no acceptable reason has been provided, the reason has not been approved by the school or no communication has been received.
Good communication is essential. Please keep us informed about any circumstances that may affect your child's attendance.
The Importance of Punctuality
We expect students to arrive at school by 8.45am each morning, ready for registration and the start of the school day.
The morning register opens at 8.45am and closes at 9.00am. Students arriving after 8.45am but before the register closes at 9.00am will be recorded as late. Students arriving after the register has closed will be recorded using the appropriate attendance code according to the reason for their late arrival.
We recognise that some of our students experience complex personal, family or transport circumstances which can affect punctuality and attendance. While we maintain high expectations, our approach is supportive and focused on helping students establish consistent patterns of attendance.
Where lateness becomes persistent, we will work with the student, parents or carers, the commissioning school or local authority and other professionals where appropriate to understand the reasons and agree appropriate support.
Students arriving late are always encouraged to come into school rather than miss the remainder of the session or school day. Being on time builds responsibility and helps students begin the day calmly and confidently.
Together, we can give every student the best opportunity to succeed.
Strong attendance, good punctuality and a positive commitment to learning make a real difference. Thank you for your continued support.