Attendance Overview

Every day counts - how attendance supports your child’s success 

At The Gatwick School, we believe in the power of Choices, Chances, and Culture – and one of the most important choices your child can make each day is to show up and take part in learning. Whether your child is in Reception, Year 6, Year 11, or any other year group, attending school regularly makes a big difference to their achievement, confidence, and future opportunities. 

Why attendance matters: 

A recent national study, The Link Between Attendance and Attainment in an Assessment Year (Research Report, March 2025), has provided powerful evidence that strong school attendance leads to better outcomes. This report is based on data from the 2023/2024 academic year and clearly shows how even small differences in attendance can impact your child’s results. 

• In Year 6 (Key Stage 2): 
  Children with 95-100% attendance were 1.3 times more likely to meet the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths than those who attended 90-95% of the time (missing around 10 days). Pupils who were nearly always present were 1.8 times more likely to succeed than persistently absent children. 

• In Year 11 (Key Stage 4): Pupils who attended nearly every day were 1.9 times more likely to achieve a Grade 5 in English and Maths than those who missed around 10 days (90-95% attendance). Just those few absences can halve the chance of success. The gap widens further for pupils with even lower attendance. 

Across both stages, increasing attendance by just 2 weeks a year can raise a pupil’s chances of reaching key academic standards by 10% to 30%. 

How you can support your child:

You play a key role in helping your child succeed by encouraging good attendance. Here's how: 

• Set clear expectations – Let your child know that school attendance is a top priority. 

• Stick to routines – A consistent bedtime and morning routine makes getting to school easier. It might be challenging, but taking mobile phones and putting them away at an agreed time is necessary for students to “switch off” and unwind before bed. 

• Limit absences – Schedule appointments during holidays or after school when possible. If an appointment is necessary during the school day, try and book this for after Period 3 as this will not affect your child’s attendance if they have their morning (Tutor Time and Period 1) and afternoon (Period 3) registration. Alternatively, they could go during Period 2 and return in time for Period 3. Again, if they have their Tutor Time and Period 1, and then Period 3 registration, their attendance will be unaffected by appointments. 

• Be illness-aware – Only keep your child home for genuine illness. If they’re feeling under the weather, encourage them to get in, then try and stay in school until at least the end of Period 3 – this won’t impact their attendance. We will always contact you if your child becomes unwell and needs to go home.

• Talk to us – If your child is struggling, reach out early so we can offer support. Miss Price (Pastoral Leader for Attendance) is on-hand for all your Attendance support needs.

• Celebrate effort – Praise and encourage good attendance – it builds long-term habits.

Remember our school values when it comes to attendance: 

Choices – Every morning brings the choice to attend and engage. This choice shapes learning and future paths. 

Chances – Each school day offers a new chance to grow, learn, and improve. Regular attendance at school leads to better outcomes and more life chances. 

Culture – High attendance strengthens our school culture, helping all pupils feel part of something positive and supportive. 

Let’s work together to make sure your child is in school every day, building confidence and achieving their potential. If you have any concerns or need help with attendance, please don’t hesitate to contact us – we’re here to support every step of the way.  

You can contact Miss Price (lquarcooprice@thegatwickschool.org.uk) or Miss Boyes (aboyes@thegatwickschool.org.uk) with any queries, or if you need support. Together, we can help your child make the most of every chance!