Absence

Sickness Absence

On the rare occasion that your child might be ill, please contact School in the first instance by telephone to advise us of their absence and the reason for it.  This should be done as early as possible.  If you call before 8:30 am, the School has an answerphone service enabling you to leave a message by dialling extension 204.  Please leave your name, the student’s full name, Form and a clear reason for their absence.  If the absence is more than two days, please keep school updated on an on-going basis.  Please call our Attendance Administrator.

On return to school, please send your child in with a letter confirming dates of absence and the reason for their absence.  This can be given to their Form Tutor or to a member of staff in the PTL Room

Appointments

We ask that parents/carers endeavour to keep health appointments out of school hours whenever possible.  We appreciate this is not always easy and ask that, in those instances, the student brings in the relevant appointment card/letter and shows it to our Attendance Administrator. Students will then need to sign out or prior to their appointment.  Students must sign out on leaving and sign back in again on their return to school.

Leave of Absence Requests

Please note that the Headteacher is expected to refuse absence requests, in accordance with national guidelines, apart from exceptional circumstances. At Kirkbie Kendal School, we will continue to consider all applications for leave of absence individually. Examples of “exceptional” circumstances that would be considered include:

• Serious illness of a close family member.
• Funerals.
• Forces personnel on leave from a foreign posting.
• Representation in national or county sports or performing arts events, or County Show participation or similar.
• Parent/Carer inflexible work commitments.
• Other exceptional family circumstances.

Circumstances that are not deemed “exceptional” include:

• Repeated (annually) requests for leave of absence.
• Cheaper holidays in England and abroad.
• Visiting relatives in non-exceptional circumstances.
• Family day trips (to exhibitions, theatre, agricultural shows etc).
• Visiting family/friends who have different holidays.
• Skiing or family holidays.

When making an application for leave of absence during term time parents/carers will need to cite the exceptional circumstances on the school form submitted. Any requests must use the correct form, available to download below or directly from our Attendance Administrator.

In the event that parents withdraw their children from school during term time, Governors reserve the right to request a Fixed Penalty Notices, issued by Cumbria County Council.