Attendance
Full attendance is one of the most important factors in achieving successful outcomes in the Sixth Form. National data consistently shows that those students with 100% attendance significantly outperform those students whose attendance drops by even 5%.
A programme of study at Sandbach College is a full-time commitment. Students must arrive by 08.25 every day ready to be registered in form at 08.30. Attendance to all form times, assemblies, Life Choices sessions and Wednesday afternoon enrichment is mandatory.
Universities, apprenticeship providers and employers ask us for attendance figures as part of the reference process. Full attendance allows us to comment positively.
We understand that on rare occasions an absence may be unavoidable due to more severe illness. If a student is too ill to attend College, we ask that a parent or carer contacts the school either by calling 01270 765031 or emailing our Sixth Form Pastoral Assistant, Mrs Cliff (hcliff@sandbachhigh.co.uk).
There are other rare circumstances where the College will authorise an absence. These include:
- medical appointments (proof of appointment required; please book to avoid lesson time where at all possible)
- driving tests (proof of booking required; please book to avoid lesson time where at all possible)
- university open days (at the discretion of the College leadership team, dependent upon prior attendance)
- university or apprenticeship interviews (proof of invitation to interview required)
- funerals
The following requests for absence would not be authorised:
- holidays
- driving lessons
- part time work (or related training)
- birthdays or other family celebrations
The table below outlines our ethos and approach to attendance:
| Percentage Attendance | Impact |
| 100% | Full attendance – the student has completed their programme of study in full and has had access to all of the wider support available in College. They are in the strongest position to succeed. |
| 97% | Strong attendance – the student has had rare absences but has completed the vast majority of their programme of study. |
| 95% | Minimum expected attendance – 95% is the minimum expectation in terms of attendance. A 5% absence still equates to approximately 2 weeks of absence – 9 lessons in each subject – and will have a negative impact on a student’s progress. |
| 90% | Below minimum expectations – Students who miss 10% of their studies (around 4 weeks per year) are highly likely to drop an exam grade. |
| 80% | Significant concern – Students with 80% attendance are missing – on average – a day of learning per week, or 8 weeks of learning per year. The College may not be in a position to enter students with this level of attendance or lower for their examinations, as they have not meaningfully completed their courses. |