School attendance

When it comes to attending school, you should remember:

• Low attendance means a lower chance of getting into further education and employment
• Good attendance means higher grades and better chances in life
• Missing the odd day can become a habit
• Every lesson in school matters and if you have time off you may find it difficult to catch up
• Absences for medical appointments should be requested as far in advance as possible and your parents / carers should try to make routine appointments (for example dental check ups) during school holidays or after school hours
• School is a great place to have fun and make new friends and it can give you improved confidence
• There is a strong link between non-attendance and street crime and / or substance abuse
• Attending school improves your health. It encourages good social skills, helps you create friendships and will also help you physically through regular exercise
• Lateness equals lost learning. Five minutes every day adds up to over three days lost each year

If you would like to talk to someone about attendance, or any other related issues, speak to the attendance officer at your school or contact the Council's Attendance Monitoring Team on 0191 424 7400.

More information about national regulation and legislation around school attendance can be found at GOV.UK: Schools.

If you are concerned that a child may be truanting and you are aware which school they go to, please contact the school directly. 

The school will tell the Council if appropriate. 

Or, you can contact the Council's Attendance Monitoring Team on 0191 424 7400.

Please give as much information as possible so the team can investigate. 

If you are concerned about the safety or behaviour of young people, contact the Police on 101.

The Council's Attendance Monitoring Team does not have the right to approach young people in the street.

A system of penalty notices has been introduced. These are used as an alternative to prosecution in the Court.

They are used in a range of situations where unauthorised absence from school happens, such as:

• truancy, including pupils found on the street during the school day without permission
• inappropriate parentally condoned absence which have not been authorised by the school, such as holidays in term time

The penalty notice requires the parent to pay a fixed penalty of £120 within 28 days of issue, discounted to £60 if paid within 21 days of issue.

Pay a fixed penalty

Those who do not pay the full amount within 28 days are prosecuted in the Magistrates Court.

For more information, see the Code of conduct for education related penalty notices.

View the Attendance Monitoring Team privacy notice.