Every School Day Matters
Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School aims to work in collaboration with students and parents/carers to ensure regular school attendance and excellent punctuality. Young people learn new things every day and can quickly become behind their peers in their learning and socially, if they are absent from school.
175 non school days each year = 175 days to spend on family time, visits, holidays, shopping, seeing friends, household jobs and other appointments.
0 Days Absence 190 Days of Education Each Year | 8 Days Absence 182 Days of Education Each Year | 11.5 Days Absence 178.5 Days of Education Each Year | 15 Days Absence 175 Days of Education Each Year | 19 Days Absence 171 Days of Education Each Year | 29 Days Absence 161 Days of Education Each Year |
100% | 96% | 94% | 92% | 90% | 85% |
Good Best chance of success | Worrying Less chance of success | Serious Concern Real barrier to success |
The School Day
8.50am | Warning bell rings for students to go to Mentor Time or Assembly. |
9.00am | Bell rings to signal the start of Mentor Time or Assembly. (If a student arrives after 9.00am they will be marked at late). |
9.15am | Start of Lesson 1. |
10.15am | Start of break time. |
10.30am | Start of Lesson 2. |
11:30am | Start of Lesson 3. |
12:30pm | Start of Lunchtime. |
1:20pm | Bell rings for students to start moving to their lesson. |
1:30pm | Start of Lesson 4. |
2:30pm | Start of Lesson 5. |
3:30 pm | End of School Day |
Absence from school
If a student is going to be absent from school or late to school parents/ carers must contact school before 8:30am. This must be done on the first day of absence and everyday of absence thereafter. Parents/carers must contact school and give a reason, along with the name of their children.
The phone numbers below are available 24 hours per day and have a voicemail option.
House | Absence Line Phone Number | House | Absence Line Phone Number |
Baggaley | 01246 581137 | Gosforth | 01246 581120 |
Buxton | 01246 581138 | Millican | 01246 581118 |
Fanshawe | 01246 581119 | Spaven | 01246 581131 |
If a parent/carer has not contacted Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School to explain their child’s absence, they will receive a text message requesting a reason why their child is absent. If there is no response this can be followed up with a phone call or home visit by the School Attendance Officer.
Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School will decide whether to authorise the absence or not. In some cases medical evidence may be required in order to authorise the absence.
Examples of Authorised absence:
- Genuine illness
- Religious observance
- Death of a close family member.
Examples of Unauthorised absence:
- Birthday
- Tiredness
- Refusing to attend school.
Medical Appointments
Ideally medical appointments should be made out of school hours . However, if this is not possible, a copy of the medical appointment letter/text/slip should be provided to Student Services in order for the absence to be authorised.
Requests for Leave of Absence/Holidays in term time.
Holidays must not be taken in term time. The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 states that Headteachers should not grant approval for any leave of absence during term-time, including holidays, unless there are exceptional circumstances. If a student does require leave, this request must be made in writing on the school’s request form and returned to school at least a month before the leave is required. If the request does not appear to be exceptional circumstances Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School may request a fixed penalty notice (fine) to be issued by the Local Authority to each parent/carer.
Punctuality

Being on time to school is just as important as good attendance. All students are expecting to be on site by 8:50am and in mentor period by 9.00am. Parents/carers should contact school if their child/ren will be late to school and provide a clear reason. Any student arriving after 9am should enter through the main reception and sign in with the member of staff there or at Student Services. Students will be asked why they are late arriving at school. Parents/carers may receive a text message informing them that their child has arrived late to school.
Late marks:
Student arrives between 9.00am –9.15 am, they will be recorded as L (late).
Student arrives after 9.15am, they will be recorded as U (late after the close of registers, this code affects the student’s attendance).
If a student arrives late twice or more in one week they will be issued with a punctuality detention. Punctuality detentions are held every Tuesday morning starting at 8am. If punctuality continues to be a concern parents/carers may be asked into school to discuss the concerns.
Who to speak to
If parents/carers have concerns about their child’s attendance there are a number of people who can be contacted for advice/support. Those members of staff are:
- Student’s Mentor
- House Support Manager
- House Progress Leader
- Attendance Officer
- Mr McGuinness (Assistant Headteacher)
You must be logged in to post a comment.