Attendance
We expect all students to attend school every day it is open. Regular attendance means being consistently present at school, demonstrating a strong commitment to learning and reflecting our core value of engagement.
Excellent attendance is both celebrated and rewarded, as we recognise its positive impact on students’ motivation, progress, and achievement. Employers value reliability, punctuality, and consistency, and these are all qualities we aim to instil in our students to prepare them for future success.
Reporting Absence or lateness
Reporting Absence or Lateness
Parents and carers must inform the school of any expected lateness or absence before 8:15am using the official absence reporting channels listed below.
Please note: Tutors and Heads of Year may not be able to check emails promptly due to teaching commitments, so it is essential that the Attendance Team is contacted directly.
When reporting a student’s absence, please include
- Student’s full name
- Tutor group
- Your name (parent/carer)
- Reason for absence (with relevant details)
- Expected date of return
Reporting Channels for Years 7–11
Email: CPAattendance@cityofpeterboroughacademy.org
Telephone: 01733 821440 (voicemail available)
If your child is absent from school, you must report their absence each day they are not attending.
This helps us ensure their safety and maintain accurate attendance records.
Punctuality
At City of Peterborough Academy, we place high value on punctuality, recognising its direct impact on your child’s education. Arriving late not only results in lost learning time but also disrupts the flow of lessons, affecting both the student’s progress and the learning experience of others.
Morning Arrival Expectations
- School gates open: 8:15am
- Gates close promptly: 8:30am
- Students must be in tutor rooms by: 8:35am, ready to start the day calmly and focused.
Any student arriving after 8:30am will be marked as late and must sign in at the Late Desk. A same-day 20-minute break time correction will be issued for late arrivals.
Correction Notifications
If your child receives a correction for lateness to school or lessons, you will be notified the same day via ClassCharts.
Missed corrections will be escalated to a lunchtime or after-school correction.
Why Punctuality Matters
Even a few minutes of lateness can lead to missed learning and disruption. Developing strong habits of punctuality supports academic success and builds essential life skills valued by future employers.
We ask for your continued support in helping your child arrive on time every day. A consistent morning routine, including adequate sleep, timely wake-ups, and a calm start, can make a real difference.
attendance expectations
We expect students to aim for 100% attendance.
To understand the impact of lower attendance: 95% attendance over the course of a school year means a student has missed approximately 10 days of learning. That’s equivalent to two full school weeks or around 50 hours of valuable classroom time.
If your child feels unwell in the morning but improves later in the day, we encourage you to bring them in for the afternoon session. Every moment of learning counts.
For more information regarding absence, please refer to our Attendance Policy.
Student Support
At City of Peterborough Academy, we are committed to supporting every student. If a student is struggling, whether with their mental health, emotional wellbeing, or facing other challenges, we have a range of support available to help.
Our dedicated pastoral and wellbeing teams work closely with students to provide guidance, care, and practical support tailored to individual needs. No concern is too small, and we encourage students and families to reach out whenever support is needed.
Please see further support here.
Attendance Team
If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s attendance, our dedicated team is here to help:
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Attendance Officer: Mr J Lewis
Available Monday to Thursday, 08:00 – 16:00, Friday 08:00 - 15:30 -
📞 Phone: 01733 821440
📧 Email: cpaattendance@cityofpeterboroughacademy.org -
Senior Attendance Champion: Mrs A McKeen, Senior Assistant Principal
Please contact Mr Lewis directly for all attendance-related enquiries. This ensures your message reaches the appropriate team promptly.
Managing Illness and Attendance
If your child feels unwell in the morning, we encourage you to support them in attending school where possible.
Sometimes symptoms like headaches or stomach aches may be linked to anxiety or worry, such as concerns about homework or upcoming lessons, rather than physical illness.
In these cases, attending school and speaking with their Tutor or Head of Year can help identify the root cause and provide reassurance. Staff are here to support students, and early communication allows us to offer the right help on the day, rather than allowing worries to build.
If there’s no clear reason for the symptoms, we still encourage attendance. Equally, if your child stays home in the morning but begins to feel better later in the day, please bring them into school as soon as they are well enough.
Of course, if your child is genuinely too unwell to attend, you must inform the school as soon as possible, even if they will only be absent for part of the day. Please use the absence reporting details provided above.
What Happens If My Child Is Absent and the School Hasn’t Been Informed
Parents and carers must report their child’s absence by 8:15am on each day they are not attending school.
If we do not receive notification, our Attendance Team will follow up to establish the reason for the absence. This may include phone calls, written communication, or home visits. These steps are taken to ensure your child’s safety and maintain accurate attendance records.
What If My Child Attends School Irregularly?
At City of Peterborough Academy, student attendance is closely monitored and reviewed every four weeks by our Attendance Team and Heads of Year. This regular review allows us to identify patterns, offer support, and work with families to address any barriers to regular attendance.
If concerns arise, we will follow our attendance procedures, which include giving parents and carers the opportunity to discuss any challenges they may be facing. We understand that every family’s circumstances are unique, and we encourage open communication so that issues can be resolved quickly and effectively.
Support is available to help students improve their attendance, and where appropriate, we may refer families to external agencies for additional help. Despite our efforts, if a student continues to have poor attendance without valid reason, legal action may be considered.
For more information, please refer to our Attendance Policy and guidance on Penalty Notice Fines for School Attendance.
What happens if my child is late to school?
Students are expected to attend school every day and arrive at their tutorial classroom by 8:35am. Punctuality to all sessions and lessons is essential for maintaining a focused and productive learning environment.
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Late Arrivals Before 9:30am:
If a student arrives after the start of the school day but before registers close at 9:30am, they will be marked as late using the appropriate attendance code. -
Late Arrivals After 9:30am (Unauthorised):
If a student arrives after 9:30am without a previously authorised reason, their lateness will be recorded as an unauthorised absence.
Consequences for Lateness
Students who arrive late without parental notification, or with a notification that is not authorised by the Academ, will be issued a 20-minute break-time correction on the same day.
If this correction is missed, it will escalate to a lunchtime or after-school correction.
Parents and carers will be notified of any corrections via ClassCharts.
Monitoring and Support
Punctuality is monitored weekly by the Attendance Team, who identify students with repeated lateness.
We ask parents and carers to speak with their child about any punctuality concerns and to contact the Attendance Team if they are experiencing difficulties getting their child to school on time.
Can I Take My Child on Holiday During Term Time?
At City of Peterborough Academy, we do not authorise family holidays during term time. In line with national legislation, requests for leave due to leisure or recreation are not considered exceptional circumstances and will be recorded as unauthorised absences.
Term dates are published on our website up to two years in advance, allowing families to plan holidays, appointments, and events outside of the school term.
If you choose to take your child out of school during term time without authorisation, you may be subject to a Fixed Penalty Notice issued by Peterborough City Council.
Requesting Exceptional Leave of Absence
We understand that there may be unavoidable and exceptional circumstances, such as a family funeral or a regulated performance, that require your child to be absent from school.
In these cases, parents/carers must submit a leave of absence request in advance by emailing:
📧 jlewis@cityofpeterboroughacademy.org
Please include:
- Your child’s full name and tutor group
- Details of the event
- Relevant supporting evidence
- Expected dates of absence
All requests will be reviewed by the Principal, and previous attendance history will be considered when making a decision.
Requests for participation in regulated performances or national/international sporting events will also be considered, provided sufficient documentation is submitted.
Penalty Notices
