Attendance and Absences

At Dr Walker’s CE (VC) Primary School, we believe that to become successful learners and achieve to their full potential, all pupils must attend school daily and punctually. All parents are actively encouraged to consider the following when booking routine medical appointments and term time holidays.

Attendance vs Days off school

A calendar year has 365 days, or 52 weeks or 12 months. A school year has 195 days, or 39 weeks or 6 terms. INSET School Training Days total 5 in each year. This means pupils are expected to attend 190 days at school.

– 1 day off per school year means attendance will only ever reach 99.5%

– 10 days of per school year means attendance will only ever reach 94.7%

– 20 days off per school year means attendance will only ever reach 90% 

Poor school attendance can result in academic underachievement, difficulty in making or keeping friendship groups and a loss of child’s confidence and self-esteem. Research has proved that children who have poor school attendance when attending primary school are more likely to truant when in secondary schools.

Attendance Incentives

As a school, we are working hard to raise the profile and importance of excellent school attendance.

We fully understand the need for children to recover from illnesses and recognise there are some cases where important medical appointments cannot be out of school time.

Important Contacts

Mrs L Morris – School Attendance Officer – office@fyfielddrwalkers.essexs.sch.uk