******* Autumn Term begins 03/09/26 for Y7, Y11 & Y12 only. All students back 04/09/26 ******* Post 16 Open Evening - Tuesday 1 December, 5pm to 7pm *******
******* Autumn Term begins 03/09/26 for Y7, Y11 & Y12 only. All students back 04/09/26 ******* Post 16 Open Evening - Tuesday 1 December, 5pm to 7pm *******
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Helston Community College

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Attendance

Why attending every day matters in secondary school
Why attending every day matters in secondary school

Why attending every day matters in secondary school (youtube.com)

Dear parents and carers
Please can I remind you of the opening times of our College receptions and our contact details:
 
South Site reception is open 8.15am – 2.15pm
(Once the reception at South Site is closed students will need to walk up to North Site to sign out before they leave the College, parents/carers will need to collect their child from North Site).
North Site reception is open 8.00am – 4.15pm
 
Leaving/Returning to school during the day
If a student is required to leave school at any point during the day, they must sign out at a Reception and sign back in at the attendance office if they return the same day.  This is to ensure that we comply with our safeguarding requirements.
 
Enquiries
Email: enquiries@helston.tpacademytrust.org

(Year 7-11) Tel: 01326 572685
(Post 16) Tel: 01326 575022
 
Our website can be accessed via this link: Helston Community College - Home



WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD IS ABSENT
If a student is absent from school, a parent/carer must inform the school by 8.30am on the day of the absence, by contacting the Attendance Team on 01326 575016 for Years 7-11 and 01326 575001 for Post 16 students. If a student is absent for more than one day, the Attendance Team must be contacted on each day of the absence.

MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS
Every effort should be made to arrange appointments outside of school hours. Where students need to attend medical appointments in school hours, please organise them for the afternoon to reduce impact on lessons and notify the Attendance Team prior to the appointment. If attending the appointment requires students to leave school during the day, they must sign out at Reception and sign back in when they return.

WHAT HAPPENS IF ATTENDANCE IS A CONCERN?
The impact of missing school on students’ achievements is well documented. Students with attendance below 95% make less progress and achieve lower GCSE grades on average than those with high attendance.
Therefore, students with low attendance will monitored closely by the Attendance Manager and the TPAT Education Welfare Officer. Letters will be sent home to raise any concerns and, where required, Pupil Support Plan Meetings will be held to try and resolve any issues. We are committed to ensuring our pupils are not disadvantaged by poor school attendance and in particular as a result of health related absence. Therefore, we are robust in our process which will require parents to work with us and provide medical information and evidence in relation to any frequent health related absence, so that we can ensure we provide access to education that is in line with your child’s health needs.

TERM TIME HOLIDAYS
Headteachers are no longer permitted to authorise holidays in term time. Headteachers are able to authorise a “leave of absence” in exceptional circumstances only. Parents/carers requesting to take their child out of College during term time must complete an application form. Each request is carefully considered and a decision made to authorise the absence or not. Unauthorised absences may result in a penalty notice being issued to parents.
PUNCTUALITY
Punctuality to School - The first lesson of the day (Tutor Period) starts at 08:45 hrs, so we expect students on-site by 8:40 am at the latest. If students are late, their parents will be informed through the Class Charts app and the students will receive a detention during lunch that day. Parent meetings will be held for students who are regularly late to school.

Punctuality to Lessons - If a student is late to class with no good reason, they will be issued with a behaviour point. Persistent lateness to class will result in a detention and contact home. We make allowances for new students, such as Year 7, until they are familiar with the College site.