The best thing you can do to make sure your child achieves well

Regular attendance at school is the key to a student's success in education. We ask all families to support their children by making sure that they attend school daily and on time. When students are absent from a lesson, it can be difficult for them to catch up as they have missed the opportunities provided in the previous lesson to understand the prior knowledge that has been taught. Whilst our teachers do their very best to support students to catch up if they have been away, they are not able to replicate the entire lesson that has been missed.

If your child cannot attend school for any reason, please email attendance@brentsidehigh.ealing.sch.uk before 08:30 to tell us they will be absent and state the reason. If you are unable to email, please telephone to inform the school on 020 8575 9162.

If you know a student may be absent for any reason (e.g. funeral), you must complete an Exceptional Leave of Absence form available below and return it to the Attendance Office prior to the absence. Please read the following information carefully before submitting your form.

Parents/carers should be aware that there have been a number of amendments to the School Attendance Policy following Department of Children, Families and Schools (DCFS) guidance. Parents/Carers are now required to complete a Leave of Absence request form. It should be noted that Leave of Absence will not be authorised for family holidays. Approval is discretionary and only in exceptional circumstances.

Whilst we acknowledge the pressures families are under during exceptional circumstances, it is important to consider that the Department of Children, Families and Schools (DCFS) research suggests a strong link between academic achievement and good attendance.