Absence/ Illness 

  • If you are unable to attend school a parent/carer must call the school absence line on 01992 410400 (OPT 1) before 8:40am.
  • Students who are absent from any lesson are expected to complete the work set and arrive prepared for the next lesson. It is the student’s responsibility to contact their subject teacher and request any work they have missed. 
  • Holidays in school time should not be taken as it is impossible to recapture an A level lesson, which is often primarily discussion-based. The copying of notes is no substitute for a missed lesson. 
  • Doctor and dentist appointments should also be made outside of school hours for the same reason. 
  • If a student needs to leave the school site for an unplanned absence the student must first speak with a member of the Sixth Form team before signing out at the main school reception. This absence must be authorised by a parent/ carer for confirmation. 

Driving tests (theory and practical) should be arranged outside school hours. (Study sessions are allocated for independent study). Please note once you have passed your test, we do not allow students to drive or park on site. 

 

Planned – Leave of Absence 

Request Pre-arranged absence must be agreed at least a week in advance. A Leave of Absence form must be completed in advance. A timely response to your application will be made.  Holidays in school time should not be taken as it is impossible to recapture an A level lesson, which is often primarily discussion-based. The copying of notes is no substitute for a missed lesson.

Absence request form

 

Attendance and Punctuality

In choosing to join the Sixth Form, students have committed themselves to full-time  education for two years. The Sixth Form at Simon Balle All-through School is committed to ensure that every student has the opportunity to develop their full potential. In order to support this, we have clear expectations of students regarding their attendance and punctuality. 

  • Sixth Form students will aim to have at least 98% attendance. 
  • Sixth Form students must be on site and registered at 8:40am each day. 
  • Sixth Form students must attend all timetabled lessons on time and ready to learn. 
  • Sixth Form students must attend all daily period 5 Learning for Life sessions with their tutor. 
  • Sixth Form students must remain on site and attend all independent study sessions in the Sixth Form Learning Centre. 

Our attendance arrangements are straightforward. Sixth Form students are expected to be in school each day from 8.35am until 3.10pm. 

In the Sixth Form, students are treated as young adults and should be working in partnership with teachers and parents if they are to reach their full potential. Students who do not have a lesson will be expected to register with the Learning Centre Manager at the start of AM and PM study periods. Students are allowed to leave the school site at lunch time only (when they must sign out and back in on their return). 

If you arrive after registration closes at 8:40am you must sign in. You will be marked late in the register and will be asked to explain your lateness and attend a lunch time detention.