Attendance

Attendance Procedure for students and parents/carers

At Scarborough Sixth Form College, we strongly believe that every lesson offers a valuable learning experience. We recognise the crucial role attendance plays in students' academic success and personal development. As such, we expect 100% attendance. While we understand that there may be occasional unavoidable absences, missed lessons should only occur in exceptional circumstances.

In line with the College's policy on attendance it is a requirement that all students need a parent/carer to authorise any absences while attending the college, this includes students who are 18+. The exception is if the student can provide evidence for a legitimate reason for their absence – this can be a letter, email or text, for example.

IMPORTANT - All absences need to be reported as early as possible. If parent(s)/carer(s) are unable to report an absence in advance, please contact the college before 09:00 am on the day or at the earliest time possible.

How to report an authorised absence for parent(s)/carer(s):

Call the attendance line on 01723 380700 and leave a voicemail if it is out of college hours or if the phone is unavailable
Send an email to studentservices@s6f.org.uk

Contact Details

01723 380700 – Attendance Line

studentservices@s6f.org.uk – Student Services

01723 380726 – Student Services for all other non-attendance matters

If parent(s)/carer(s) does not authorise an absence:

A student will be marked as N on their timetable as an unauthorised absence for each lesson they do not attend

For each lesson a student has missed, both parent(s)/carer(s) and students will receive a message to say the student is missing from the lesson – it is important for the parent/carer to contact college as soon as they can when they receive attendance messages

If parent(s)/carer(s) and students are not receiving messages please contact Student Services directly to check that we have the correct contact details: mobile numbers and email addresses

The Engagement and the Progress Tutors will send out messages after 09:30 am if the student is marked as N on a register

The Guidance Support Tutors (GSTs) will check attendance throughout the day and will contact parent(s)/carer(s) if the student’s absence remains unauthorised

When a student can report an absence in advance without authorisation required by parent(s)/carer(s):

If a student has a medical/dental/optical/personal appointment with evidence of the appointment e.g. letter, email - they need to show this to either the Engagement Tutor or their GST

For University interviews or open days. They need to show their confirmation email to either the Engagement Tutor or their GST

If a student is running late due to transport, they can contact college and sign in when they arrive with the Engagement Tutor before going to their lesson

Students signing out of college and missing lessons

A student can sign out of college:

if they are feeling unwell

if there is an emergency outside of college

if they have an emergency appointment e.g. medical

personal matters

Students should not leave the college premises until they have signed out and this is due to Safeguarding and Health and Safety reasons. Teachers are not able to sign students out, students must inform a GST, Progress/Engagement Tutor or Student Services.

Students - How to sign out

First a student needs to go the GST office to speak to a GST and let them know they are requesting to go home and the reason why

If there are no GSTs available, students need to go and speak with the Engagement Tutor in the LRC

If a student is feeling very unwell and they need first aid advice/help, they need go to reception where a First Aider will be available to assist

If a student rings a parent/carer to pick them up as they are unwell, they still need follow the sign out procedure

Students can ask to speak to a GST privately if it is a personal matter

Ringing or contacting teachers is not an accepted process to sign out or authorise any absences

When a student asks to be signed out, for safeguarding reasons the Engagement Tutor or GST will ring the student’s emergency contact to inform them that the student is signing out and the reason for signing out. They will ensure that the student is able to get home safely.

Reporting Holidays

Please note that the College does not consider it acceptable for students to take holidays during term-time, as it results in lost teaching and learning which is very likely to reduce overall performance in courses and may well affect the student’s future directly. We publish our term dates well in advance to avoid such a situation arising. However, we also understand that on rare occasions parents may make a special request to take their son/daughter away for a particular event. The process for such an application is given below.

The parent/carer must inform their student’s GST or Student Services. It is the responsibility of the student to inform their teachers at least 2 weeks in advance to enable work to be set. An appointment will be made for the student to see their GST on return from holiday to check that the work has been completed and catch up sessions will be placed on their timetable.

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