Attendance
At St Joseph’s, excellent attendance is an important part of living out our Catholic mission:
We learn, we grow, we love.
We believe that every child is a unique gift from God, created to flourish academically, socially, and spiritually. Regular attendance supports our commitment to the values of Aspiration, Respect, Resilience, Community, and Creativity, helping every pupil to reach their God-given potential.
Every child should strive for 100% attendance. As parents, you play a vital role in supporting your child’s learning journey and helping them to embrace these values each day.
If your child is too unwell to attend school, please notify us by 9:15 am on the first day of absence. We strongly encourage all parents to report absences using the Studybugs app, which provides a quick and reliable method of communication. You may also contact us by phone or email (office@stjosephs.barnet.sch.uk). If no valid reason is provided, the absence will be marked as unauthorised.
If your child is slightly unwell, please still send them to school. Minor ailments such as coughs or colds often improve as the day goes on, particularly when children are learning and socialising with friends. Our qualified first aiders will contact you if your child needs to go home.
For any absence of three days or more, we require medical evidence, such as a prescription or appointment slip.
Routine medical and dental appointments should be arranged outside school hours. If your child must attend during the school day, please notify the school at least one day beforehand (except in emergencies).
No Absence During Term Time
As a Catholic community built on Respect, Resilience, and Aspiration, we ask all families to honour the importance of uninterrupted learning.
Holiday dates are shared well in advance. Special leave will only be authorised in highly exceptional circumstances, such as serious illness or bereavement. Absences before or after school holidays will be closely monitored, and evidence will be required.
Please arrange family celebrations (e.g., communions, weddings, baptisms) during school holidays, as children will not be allowed to miss school for these events. Children must not be taken out of school to receive medical treatment abroad.
The table below shows how even a small number of missed days can result in significant lost learning:
| Attendance During Year | Days Absent | Number of Lessons Missed |
|---|---|---|
| 95% | 8 days | 40 lessons |
| 94% | 10 days | 50 lessons |
| 90% | 19 days | 100 lessons |
| 85% | 29 days | 150 lessons |
| 80% | 38 days | 200 lessons |
Please note that unsatisfactory attendance may result in your child losing their school place.
Punctuality
Good punctuality reflects our values of Respect, Community, and Resilience.
Being 5 minutes late every day adds up to 3 days of lost learning over a year.
The school doors open at 8:30 am, and children must be in class by 8:50 am when the register is taken. Children arriving after this time will be marked ‘late’; those arriving after the register closes will be marked ‘absent’. Persistent lateness may result in involvement from the School’s Education Social Worker.
At St Joseph’s, we work together as a loving Catholic community to ensure that every child can learn, grow, and love to the fullest each day.