Reporting an absence

In order to maintain accurate attendance records and ensure the health and safety of all students, all parents/carers must following the guidance below.
  • For ALL absences you must:
    • Call the school absence line every day of your child’s absence on 020 7473 7548 by 8.15am
    • Leave a clear message with your name and relationship to the child then the child’s FULL NAME, FORM GROUP and the REASON for their absence/lateness
    • Email any medical evidence to educationwelfare@cumberlandcst.org stating your child’s FULL NAME and FORM GROUP in the email subject line
    • ALL absence/late calls should be made by the legal guardian, should we suspect otherwise, an investigation will commence and further action will be taken
  • Failure to adhere to any of the above will result in your child’s absence being recorded as unauthorised absence
  • All absences will be unauthorised unless medical evidence is provided or there are extenuating circumstances that have been agreed by the school
  • If your child’s attendance falls below 96% you will receive warning letters and if it deteriorates further you will be liable to pay penalty notices and/or court action will be taken
  • If your child is late to school, you MUST also phone the school and inform us of the reason
  • Failure to report lateness or if your child is persistently late, you will be called in for formal meetings and may receive a penalty notice
  • ALL holidays during term time are unauthorised and you will receive a penalty notice
  • All medical appointments should be made outside of school hours such as Friday afternoon, where possible
  • Be aware of current government guidelines relating to the COVID-19 pandemic (please see below)
  • Any medical appointments without prior agreement or evidence will be recorded as an unauthorised absence
  • Ensure your child arrives in school at their designated times stated in the table below
  • Advise the school immediately of change of telephone numbers and of address via email at Contact@cumberlandcst.org. We require proof of address in order to amend this  
  • No students, if unwell or if permission has otherwise been granted, are allowed to leave school premises out of regular school hours without an accompanying parent or carer
  • Check with the school or the website (term dates)  to ensure that parents/carers and pupils are aware of the correct term-dates

Year Group Designated Arrival Times

Year Group Time Entrance

7

8am - 8.10am

Oban Close

8

8.10am - 8.20am

Woodside Road

9

8.10am - 8.20am

Oban Close

10

8.20am - 8.30am

Oban Close

11

8am - 8.10am

Woodside Road

Covid 19 Absences

As of 14th December 2021, "a new national approach to daily testing for contacts of Covid-19 is being introduced (including until the end of this term).

All adults who are fully vaccinated and children aged 5 to 18 years and 6 months, identified as a close contact of someone with Covid-19, whether Omicron or not, should take a lateral flow device test (LFD) every day for 7 days. You do not need to self-isolate.

If you are notified by NHS Test and Trace as a close contact, all eligible staff, pupils and students should:

  • Take an LFD test each day for 7 days and report the results through the national online reporting system and to the school.
  • Continue to attend school if the LFD test is negative.
  • Self-isolate and order a PCR test to confirm the result if the LFD test is positive.
  • Self-isolate for 10 days if the PCR test is positive.
  • If the PCR test is negative, you no longer need to self-isolate but should continue to carry out the remainder of the daily LFD tests.

Anyone over the age of 18 years and 6 months who is not vaccinated, must self-isolate in line with the government guidelines if they are a close contact of a positive case.

It is important that you inform the school immediately if your child is showing any of the following symptoms: 

  • high temperature
  • new and continuous cough
  • loss or change to their sense of smell or taste
  • In these instances your child should self-isolate and our absence procedures should be followed. 
In these instances your child should self-isolate and our absence procedures should be followed. 
 
If you are quarantining or self-isolating as per government guidance then your child will be expected to attend their lessons virtually. Your child will be able to access all their lessons live via the DPR portal, see below for more information.
 
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school. Additionally, if you are experiencing any challenges due to COVID-19, please get in touch with your child’s Head of Learning or email educationwelfare@cumberlandcst.org  and we will do our very best to support you.
 
For further infomation on Covid-19 and remote learning, follow link to our dedicated page.
 

Home Learning Resources

When logging in for home learning, your child must use their usual log in details to log into RM Unify following the link below. This will be the same login they use at school.
 

Click here for further information on how to access lessons at home

ParentMail

The school uses ParentMail, to contact you on all issues relating to lateness or absence.  Please ensure you sign up to ParentMail, which is also the school's catering and communication system.  If you have any questions on how to do this please do not hesitate to contact the school. Please see video tutorial below to see how to register.

Unauthorised absences

Important - This school does not permit parents/carers to take students out of school during term-time under any circumstances for:
  • Holidays
  • Medical treatment abroad
  • Travel abroad/Away from home for family issues
Students who do this may lose their school place or receive a penalty notice.
 
Students, whose attendance falls below the Government guidelines of 90% or with poor punctuality, will be asked to attend a school attendance panel meeting.
 

Late Students

Students arriving after their designated times will be marked as late and will receive a 60 minute detention on the same day. Students that arrive from 8.35am are required to sign themselves in using the booking in system at the student window located by reception. This is to ensure that their attendance can be registered.
 
We hope that all parents/carers work cooperatively with the school.
 
For more information about the importance of attendance and punctuality for all students, please see our parents guide below.