For Parents & Carers
Attendance
Attendance Line: 01692 580281 Option 1
Attendance Email: attendance@stalhamhigh.org.uk
Or alternatively, log an absence through the Arbor App
Regular School attendance and parents' Legal responsibilities - September 2026
It’s really important that your child attends school as much as possible.
We are here to help parents and students who may on occasion have difficulties with this.
At Stalham High School we take the education and wellbeing of every child very seriously. To do our best for your child they need to be in school and learning. We follow Norfolk County Council's Support First Approach which aims to successfully address attendance issues without the need for escalation.
Every parent and carer of a child of compulsory school age has a legal obligation to ensure that their child attends school. If a parent fails in this they are guilty of breaking the 1996 Education Act.
Your Stalham High Attendance Team
Mrs Sutton – Attendance Officer
Ms Beck – Inclusion Manager
Mrs Davison – Assistant Headteacher
If you are concerned about your child’s attendance, please contact us. Working with teachers and wider support teams within the Attendance Team can support with:
- Attendance Support Meetings
- Early Help interventions
- Support for long-term medical absences
- Support referral to Just One Norfolk
- Signpost to external support groups and charities
- Support return to school after an operation/medical procedure
Absence
Should your child not be in school, for any reason, we would ask you to contact the school on a daily basis while they are away, either by leaving a message on the attendance line – 01692 580281 Option1 - or sending an email to attendance@stalhamhigh.org.uk, stating the reason why they cannot attend school (this service is available outside normal school hours). We can then update their records and know that you are aware of the absence and that your child is safe.
Welfare Checks
Should your child be absent for three days consecutively with no reports of absence, a Welfare safeguarding check will take place as an unannounced home visit.
If, after five days’ of absence, with parent contact, a student is still absent from school then again, a Welfare safeguarding check will take place as an unannounced home visit.
Lateness to School
We would like to remind families that the school day begins at 8:30am. Form time is an essential part of our Personal Development Programme, and we have carefully designed the sessions to ensure they are relevant, engaging, and support students in developing the skills and knowledge they need for future success. In addition to the learning that takes place, good punctuality is important quality employers look for and is often referenced when providing college applications and references.
Any student arriving after 8:35am will receive a detention equivalent to the number of minutes they are late to school. We appreciate your support in helping students start their day calmly, purposefully, and on time.
Holidays and Leave of Absence during term time
There are 175 non-school days a year – that’s plenty of time to go on visits, holidays, shopping or other appointments.
Stalham High School does not authorise family holidays taken during term time. Leave will only be considered for ‘Exceptional Circumstances’.
If you need to request an absence from school during term-time, please complete a Leave of Absence Form: Leave of Absence form 2026-2027
Please note - should your request not be agreed and you take your child out of school the absence will be marked unauthorised and legal action may be taken.
If you have problems in accessing the form, please request a paper copy from the Attendance Team. Only exceptional circumstances may be authorised.
Appointments during the school day
We expect, wherever possible, for appointments to be arranged so that they do not disrupt your child’s learning. If an appointment outside school hours is not available please try and ensure the minimum amount of disruption to your child’s education by making it during a lunch break or as early or late in the day as possible.
If a student has an appointment during the school day, we ask that evidence of the appointment is provided. This is to ensure that the absence is recorded accurately as a medical appointment and does not adversely affect the student’s attendance record.
As we continue our drive to improve attendance across the school, if your child’s attendance drops below 90%, we will be asking you to provide medical evidence to support any absence from school. This will allow us to authorise the absence. Absence below this percentage, and without medical evidence, will be unauthorised.
Let’s Celebrate Attendance!
At Stalham High, we like to celebrate good attendance!
Each week, Form Tutors will distribute ‘Skip the Queue’ passes for students who attained 100% attendance the previous week. Alternatively, students can choose to be awarded a merit for displaying the ‘High Ambition’ value of the Stalham 5.
In addition, at the end of each term, all students who have 100% attendance will receive a reward and at the end of the academic year, we run a Rewards Trip, recognising those students who have achieved 100% attendance through the year.
Action taken when attendance is poor
The school’s average attendance is 95% and our rates of persistent absence are falling steadily as the school continues to improve. We would have cause for concern about any student whose attendance falls below 95%.
If there are problems with poor attendance, in the first instance we will always work with the family to discuss any concerns they have and help with any issues that may arise.
However if attendance does not improve after constructive intervention and parents or guardians do not have open communication with the school, legal action can and will be taken.
Norfolk County Council’s Attendance Roadmap
We follow Norfolk County Council's supportive, stepped approach to attendance. Having high attendance is strongly linked with good GCSE results. We have high expectations for attendance, rewarding students with weekly Skip the Queue passes for those with 100% attendance and no lates in a week. We send home half termly traffic light letters so that you can keep track of your child's attendance. Where we consider necessary, we formalise our support with meetings, attendance contract and, as a last resort, enforce legal sanctions. Attached to this bulletin is an "attendance roadmap" which sets out clearly the different stages in the process. Please do contact us at any time to discuss your child's attendance.
GCSE Preferences: Our commitment
To promote strong attendance habits ahead of Key Stage 4, we prioritise students with no unauthorised absence when allocating first choices of GCSE preferences, wherever possible within timetable and staffing constraints.
Trips
Spaces on oversubscribed trips for students whose attendance is a concern may also be withdrawn in favour of students with good attendance.
Your child is entitled to the best possible education to give them the best possible start in life. Please work with us in ensuring they attend school every day, and on time.