In order to give our pupils the greatest chance of academic success and of maximising the opportunities provided to them here at Melbourn Village College, we expect 100% attendance from each pupil and will do all we can to help them achieve this. Employers value reliability, punctuality, and consistency, and these are all qualities we aim to instil in our students to prepare them for future success.
Attendance at school is the fundamental building block to support children’s learning. Research from the Department for Education shows there is a clear correlation between a pupil’s attendance at school and their attainment and development, both academically and personally.
The table below shows attendance over an academic year:
Impact of attendance on GCSE outcomes (national data)
If your child is absent from school, you must report their absence each day they are not attending. If you are reporting your child’s absence from school, please contact the Attendance team before 8am:
📞 Phone: 01763 223400
📧 Email: [email protected]
When reporting your child’s absence, please include:
– Pupil’s full name and year group
– Your name (parent/carer)
– Reason for absence (with relevant details) and expected date of return
If your child is unwell and unable to attend school, you have a legal requirement to inform the school on each day of absence.
Please note, Form Tutors and Heads of Key Stage may not be able to check emails promptly during the school day due to teaching commitments, so it is essential that the Attendance team is contacted directly.
If you have contacted us, we may still contact you to discuss your child’s absence to help support you and your child. If a pupil is absent due to illness for more than three days, the school may ask parents/carers to provide medical evidence.
If you need help and strategies to get your child into school more often or if you are worried about your child’s attendance or punctuality, please contact us for support.
If you fail to inform the school, we are legally required to contact you, to ensure your child’s safety. Even if they have been absence on the previous day, we cannot assume they are still at home poorly.
Secondary school attendance: Parent guide
Morning arrival expectations
- School gates open: 8.15am
- Gates close: 8.25am
- Pupils must be in tutor rooms by: 8.30am, ready to start the day calmly and focused.
Breakfast club is available for all pupils from 8.00am every morning.
Any pupil arriving after 8:30am will be marked as late and must sign in at the Late Desk. If a pupil arrives after 9.00am they will be given a U code for the am session, this is an unauthorised absence. A same-day 30 minute detention will be issued for late arrivals.
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.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s attendance, our dedicated team is here to help:
Attendance Officer: Mrs Fox, Operations and Attendance Lead
Available Monday to Friday 7.00am – 2.00pm during term time
📞 Phone: 01763 223400
📧 Email: [email protected]
Senior Attendance Lead: Mrs Elvin, Assistant Principal
If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s attendance, our dedicated team is here to help.
Please contact our attendance team via the contact details above for all attendance related enquiries. This ensures your message reaches the appropriate team promptly.
At Melbourn Village College, we are committed to supporting every pupil. If a pupil 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 safeguarding team provide guidance, care, and practical support tailored to individual needs. No concern is too small, and we encourage pupils and families to reach out whenever support is needed.
Please see our wellbeing information for further support.
Exceptional Leave
Principals may not grant any leave of absence to pupils during term time unless they consider there to be ‘exceptional circumstances’. This may include bereavement, attending a family funeral, or visiting a relative who is terminally ill. The school considers each application for term-time absence individually, taking into account the specific facts, circumstances and relevant context behind the request.
Valid reasons for authorised absence include (but are not limited to):
- Medical appointments (please arrange non-urgent medical appointments outside of school hours)
- Religious observance – where the day is exclusively set apart for religious observance by the religious body to which the pupil’s parents belong
- One off sporting events/performing arts competitions, if the child is participating and is at county standard or above and a letter has been provided from the performing arts/sports regional governing body as evidence
- Traveller pupils travelling for occupational purposes
- Pupils in Year 11 may be granted permission to attend interviews for further or higher education provision or employment.
The CAM Academy Trust and MVC will not grant leave of absence for holidays during term time.
Appointments
Missing registration for a medical or dental appointment is counted as an authorised absence; advance notice and evidence of the appointment is required for authorising these absences. However, we encourage parents to make medical and dental appointments out of school hours where possible. Where this is not possible, the pupil should be out of school for the minimum amount of time necessary.
If you would like to request a planned absence from school for reasons stated above, please complete the Exceptional Leave Request Form and email or return the completed form to the attendance team at least 2 weeks prior to the absence.
Please refer to Cambridge County Council for information on pupil absence from school and your legal position.