Attendance and behaviour
Find out more about how our school encourages excellent attendance and outstanding behaviour.
Attendance matters
Attending secondary school regularly is crucial for a student’s academic success, personal development, and future opportunities. Research shows that students with higher attendance are significantly more likely to achieve good GCSE results. According to the Department for Education, pupils with 95% attendance or higher are more than twice as likely to achieve five or more strong GCSE passes (grades 9-4) including English and Maths, compared to those with attendance below 90%.
Missing just one day every two weeks can lead to nearly four weeks of lost learning over a school year. Regular attendance also helps students build essential life skills, develop strong friendships, and take part in extracurricular activities that support confidence and wellbeing. Poor attendance, on the other hand, can limit academic progress and reduce future career and education options. Simply put, being in school every day helps students stay on track and reach their full potential.
Outstanding behaviour counts
Outstanding behaviour is essential for creating a safe, respectful, and productive learning environment where all students can thrive. When students behave well, they are better able to focus, engage in lessons, and achieve strong academic results. Research shows that schools with high standards of behaviour see improved outcomes, with students making faster progress and developing key skills such as self-discipline, teamwork, and resilience. At our school, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of behaviour to ensure every child can succeed. However, we cannot do this alone. We need the full support of parents to reinforce our expectations at home, encourage respect for rules, and work with us when concerns arise. By supporting our behaviour policies and promoting a positive attitude to learning, parents play a vital role in helping us build a culture of excellence where all students feel safe, valued, and motivated to do their best every day.
Behaviour and detentions
During lessons, teachers may issue detentions for poor behaviour. Depending on the severity of the incident, this could take place during break, lunchtime, or after school. Parents will be notified in advance if an after-school detention is issued, which will last for a maximum of one hour. If a student’s behaviour results in them being removed from a lesson (a ‘red card’), an after-school detention will be issued. This will be followed by a discussion involving the Head of Department and the subject teacher.
Incidents that occur during break, lunchtime, or after school are investigated by the Head of Year. Sanctions, in line with the school’s Behaviour Policy, may include Internal Isolation, Fixed-Term Exclusion, or Permanent Exclusion, depending on the seriousness of the incident. Students who arrive late without a valid reason will receive a 30-minute detention that afternoon. If missed, this escalates to 60 minutes the next day, and then to a two-hour Headteacher’s detention on Thursday if still not served. Failure to wear correct uniform or follow corridor and line-up rules may result in a ‘blue slip’—a 30-minute after-school detention. Teacher-issued detentions may be expected to be served on the same day.