Parents Guide - South Wilts Grammar School for Girls

ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL - ILLNESS
It is important for us to know if a student is not going to be attending school.
Therefore, would you please telephone 01722 323326, send an email to
attendance@swgs.wilts.sch.uk or contact us via parent portal as soon as possible
on the first day of non-attendance, informing us of the reason and expected length
of absence.
Absences must be reported EACH day of absence for health and safety purposes.
Reception and the school office are manned from 8.30am, although there is a
school answerphone for earlier messages.
It is important that the school is notified immediately of any contagious diseases
e.g. German measles.
In all cases, a letter or an email following a telephone call explaining the reason for
absence must be sent to the Attendance Officer on the day of return to school.
If your daughter has a music lesson you should contact the peripatetic teacher
yourself – the school office will not be able to do this for you.
If no call or email has been received to notify us of your daughter’s absence, you
will be contacted by Mrs Crossen, the Attendance Officer over the course of the
day.
Please note: all absences, which the school has not received notification for will be
recorded as unauthorised absence.
ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL - OTHER REASONS
Permission for a pupil to be absent from school, including medical appointments,
should be requested as far in advance of the event as possible.
A letter or the appointment card must be given to Reception or the Attendance
Officer in advance where possible, or produced on the day at the time of signing
out.
For absence other than a medical appointment, please use the Absence request
form, available on the school website www.swgs.wilts.sch.uk under Parent
Information/Letters & Forms/Application For Leave of Absence form or from the
school office.
The law authorises certain categories of absence and these include: sickness or
other unavoidable cause, religious observance, if suitable transport has not been
provided and the school is not within walking distance and educational visits.
Holidays of up to 10 days in a school year may be authorised but the guidelines for
authorising holidays are very strict and can only include those taken in term time
for exceptional reasons. This does not include convenience of flights or cost of
holidays. Please give as much detail as possible on the Leave of Absence Form.
If you take your daughter out of school for other reasons, this will be unauthorised
absence and will be recorded as such.
ASSESSMENT & REPORTING
A variety of assessment methods are used at regular intervals to help students develop
as independent learners, raise motivation and provide feedback on commitment,
attainment and progress, as well as targets for improvement.
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