Attendance Matters

The PGHS Attendance Target for all pupils is 97%

Our Attendance Team

• SLT Attendance Champion: Mr. Ward – b.ward@penworthamgirls.lancs.sch.uk
• Attendance Improvement Worker: Lisa Risi – l.risi@penworthamgirls.lancs.sch.uk
• Attendance Officer: Nicola Speariett – n.speariett@penworthamgirls.lancs.sch.uk
• Pastoral Support Worker: Lindsay Scott – l.scott@penworthamgirls.lancs.sch.uk

Our Approach to Attendance

Every child has a legal right to a full-time education that enables them to reach their potential and lead a fulfilling life. Being in school and ready to learn is essential for academic achievement, emotional wellbeing, and future opportunities.

This policy aims to maximise student attendance, supporting the best possible academic and social outcomes.

We believe that high attendance is achieved when students feel a strong sense of belonging, safety, and happiness in school. While we recognise that absence can stem from complex issues, we are committed to working in genuine partnership with students and their families to overcome these barriers.

In our experience, absence often worsens the challenges a young person faces—even when they or their parents believe otherwise.

Legal Duties and Responsibilities

The law entitles every child of compulsory school age to an efficient, full-time education suited to their age, ability, and any special educational needs. It is the legal responsibility of parents to ensure their child receives this education.

The Importance of Attendance

Excellent attendance is the foundation of success, both in and out of the classroom. National research and our own data show a strong link between attendance, academic performance, and wellbeing.

Students with frequent absences are more likely to:

• Underperform academically
• Report friendship difficulties and poor mental health
• Miss out on extracurricular activities, trips, and residentials

The effects of poor attendance extend beyond PGHS. Students with low attendance are less likely to secure places on their preferred post-16 pathways. Persistently absent students are three times more likely to need to re-sit GCSE Maths and/or English at college, and fewer than half complete the college course they initially enrolled on.

How We Support Attendance

Our collaborative approach is based on the Department for Education’s Working Together to Improve Attendance guidance, which outlines six key stages:

• Expect – All staff are expected to promote high attendance for all student groups, including those who are disadvantaged or have SEND. Creating a culture of belonging is a core responsibility, and staff work to reduce absence at every opportunity.
• Monitor – We rigorously analyse attendance data to identify patterns of concern and intervene early to prevent issues from becoming entrenched.
• Listen and Understand – When a pattern of absence emerges, we engage with the student and their family to understand the underlying causes. We acknowledge the complexity of these issues and aim to provide appropriate support.
• Facilitate Voluntary Support – Where support is needed, we act promptly to connect students and families with the right services. In more complex cases, this may involve an Early Help plan.
• Formalise Support – If absence continues despite voluntary support, we may formalise interventions through attendance contracts or education supervision orders. In cases where legal action is being considered, a Notice to Improve will be issued.
• Enforce – When all other avenues have been exhausted, and support is not effective or engaged with, we will enforce the student’s right to education through statutory interventions such as penalty notices or prosecution.

Further Information

Below is a summary of our attendance policy. The full document is also available for reference.