12 Sep
Dear Parent/Carer,
This is an important update about school attendance for the 2022/23 academic year.
Holy Trinity Catholic School is working in partnership with parents and the Local Authority to improve school attendance.
A big thank you to the majority of parents who make sure their children attend school regularly!
Your efforts, working in partnership with the school, will ensure that your child will have the best chance to achieve their academic potential and have real opportunity in further education and the world of work. It will also enable your child to:
· access the lessons needed to achieve their expected grades
· maintain friendships and develop new ones
· have access to social and sporting events offered by the school
· explore potential careers
· develop work habits such as good punctuality which are essential to thrive in the world of employment
How does your child compare?
| Attendance during one school year | equals this number of days absent | which is approximately this many weeks absent | which means this number of lessons missed |
| 95% | 9 days | 2 weeks | 50 lessons |
| 90% | 19 days | 4 weeks | 100 lessons |
| 85% | 29 days | 6 weeks | 150 lessons |
If you are worried about your child/children’s attendance the first port of call is to discuss your concerns with the school directly. The school has specialist staff who may be able to help, and all schools work closely with health and council teams who may also be able to help if needed. If you have concerns about mental health; domestic abuse; parenting; bereavement; finance; problems with drugs and alcohol; you can find help and support from the ‘From Birmingham with Love’ webpage: From Birmingham with Love
Additionally, Birmingham City Council provides online information and guidance to parents on school attendance which you can access here: School Attendance Information for Parents
Family holidays in term time are not allowed in law and are unlikely to be authorised. Family emergencies also need careful consideration. It is not always appropriate or in the best interests of the child to miss school for emergencies which are being dealt with by adult family members. Notifying the school of leave due to a family emergency does not mean it will be authorised.
Please note that where parents fail to ensure their child attends school regularly, legal action, including penalty notices, may be considered.
We wish you and your child/children all the best for the new academic year.
Kind regards
Education Legal Intervention Team
Birmingham City Council
