Attendance
At Ocean Academy regular school attendance is recognised as key to good student outcomes. The school will encourage good attendance and our target is 96%. When attendance does not reach this we will take appropriate action and support as required. There is a persistent absence threshold of 90%.
Our Attendance team is as follows:
Mrs R Richardson Attendance Lead
Mrs A C-Simpson Pastoral Lead
Mrs J Burry Office Manager
Mr M West Behaviour and Engagement Lead
If your child cannot attend school, parents/carers are required to contact the school on 01202 606888 and speak to the office team – Mrs Fudge or Mrs Burry. If they are busy please leave a message.
Alternatively email: office@ocean-aspirations.org.
Medical or dental appointments wherever possible should be made outside of the school day. We do require a letter or appointment card as proof of any appointment your child has.
Attendance at Ocean Academy – Important Information for Parents
Under the new National Framework for attendance, all schools are required to consider a Penalty Notice (fine) when a child has missed 10 or more sessions (5 days) for unauthorised reasons. The penalty is £80 if paid after 21 days and this rises to £160 if paid within 28 days.
In the case of repeated fines, if a parent receives a second fine for the same child within any three-year period, this will be charged at the higher rate of £160.
Fines per parent will be capped to two fines within any three-year period. Once this limit has been reached, other actions like a parenting order or prosecution will be considered.
If you’re prosecuted and attend court because your child hasn’t been attending school, you could get a fine of up to £2,500.
If a registered pupil of compulsory school age fails to attend school regularly, the parent could be guilty of an offence under Section 444 Education Act 1996. In April 2017, the Supreme Court held that attending school “regularly” means attendance in accordance with the rules prescribed by the school and not “sufficiently frequent attendance“. This means that a child must attend school on every day that the school requires him or her to do so and failure to do this may lead to the commission of an offence.
There are 2 offences:
- Section 444(1) Education Act 1996– If the child is absent without authorisation then the parent is guilty of an offence. This is a strict liability offence i.e. all that needs to be shown is a lack of regular attendance. Sanctions can include fines.
- Section 444(1A) Education Act 1996– an aggravated offence. If the child is absent without authorisation and the parent knew about the child’s absence and failed to act then the parent is guilty of an offence. Sanctions can include a fine and a prison sentence.
First Day Call
We will telephone you on the first day of an unexplained absence to find out why your child is absent from school.
What is meant by ‘Unauthorised Absence?
When no explanation for an absence is given.
When the explanation given is not thought to be acceptable (for example; shopping).
When absence requested (such as holiday) is such that the circumstances are not considered ‘exceptional’.
For our attendance policy, please refer to the policies page.
Attendance Matters September ’24