Student Attendance Policy

1. Prupose of the Policy

1.1. The intention of this policy is to ensure a consistent approach to the treatment of student attendance in all areas of the college and to ensure that all students understand their attendance requirements.

1.2. The college recognises that in order to obtain maximum benefit from their programme students need to attend 100% of the programme sessions, including tutorial, key skills and enrichment modules, where applicable. This policy sets out clearly the expectations and constraints on attendance.

2. Scope of the Policy

2.1. This policy applies to all students enrolled on a college programme of any duration.

3. Policy Statement

3.1. All students are expected to strive for 100% attendance

At any time of year:

3.2. Should the level of absence for any student exceed 15% at any time then the personal tutor will arrange for the student to have an interview with their Head of Curriculum Area, with whom they will agree necessary action.

3.3. Should improvements not occur within one month then the student will be referred to the Head of Faculty who will determine further action and issue a final warning to improve attendance.

3.4. Should attendance remain poor for a further two weeks then the student's place on the course will be withdrawn by the Head of Faculty once the decision has been ratified by the Director of Curriculum Support. The student may appeal to the Principal.

At the year end:

3.5. Should attendance for the year drop below 90% then examination fees will be paid by the student.

3.6. Should attendance for the year drop below 85% then progression to further study for the next college year will not be permitted. In these circumstances:

3.6.1 For students under 19 an interview with the student and parent or guardian and a senior member of college staff, the will be required before progress can be considered. In cases where progress is permitted this will be conditional on the production of a significant piece of work of relevance to the programme or student. The nature of the additional work will be agreed at the interview.

3.6.2 For students aged 19 and over an interview with the student and a senior member of college staff, the will be required before progress can be considered. In cases where progress is permitted this will be conditional on the production of a significant piece of work of relevance to the programme or student. The nature of the additional work will be agreed at the interview.

In support of the policy:

3.7. Students not eligible for an Educational Maintenance Allowance, EMA, and achieving 95% or greater attendance for their entire programme, including tutorial, key skills and enrichment where they form part of the programme, will receive an attendance bonus credited to their college shop account, calculated as:

3.7.1 100% attendance, for the period of one college term, will be eligible for a bonus of £25.

3.7.2 95% or above but less than 100% attendance, for the period of one college term, will be eligible for a bonus of£10.

3.8 Students eligible for an EMA receive attendance and progression bonuses in line with the EMA regulations.

3.9 All absence will be marked by teaching staff as "unauthorised" in the first instance. It is the responsibility of the student to visit the EMA coordinator or a Student Advisor on Student Street immediately on return to college and certify the absence as authorised if that is the case. The coordinator or advisor will then amend the attendance mark to "authorised". No attendance mark will be changed beyond one week after the return to college

3.10 If a student claims authorised absence on more than three occasions then an interview with the Head of Curriculum Area will be required before any changes can be made

3.11 To assist with attendance monitoring the college will make individual attendance information available to students and tutors weekly to enable attendance to form part of the normal business of tutorials.

Annexe: "Learner Attendance and Absence", notes produced by Administration on detailed procedures

DECEMBER 2008