Regular and punctual attendance of students is both a legal requirement and crucial to a student's success.  There is a clear link between a high rate of attendance and high achievement. If students are not in lessons they cannot learn! 

• 90% attendance over five years at secondary school equates to half a school year being missed.
• 80% attendance over five years at secondary school is the same as one whole school year being missed.

The greater the attendance, the greater the achievement

• 93% attendance gives your child a 73% chance of achieving 5 A*-C grades in their GCSEs.
• Below 90% attendance, gives your child only a 27% chance of achieving 5 A*-C grades in their GCSEs.

If a student is ill

If your child is too unwell to attend please report the absence through the Fullhurst App or contact the college on 0116 282 4326 and select option 2.  Please do this by 10am on the first day of absence.  A note explaining the absence should be brought in on return to college. 

Medical appointments 

Please attempt to make any appointment to see the dentist, optician and doctor outside of college hours.  If this is unavoidable, please ensure that your child attends college before / after the appointment.  Medical evidence should be provided for all appointments.

Family holidays in term time

Families are requested to book their holidays to coincide with the college holidays. Holidays in term time will only be authorised for exceptional reasons.  Whilst we appreciate the differences in the price of holidays during the school holiday period compared to term time, it is important to note that government guidance clearly states that financial reasons are not ‘exceptional reasons’.  If your child has unauthorised leave of absence you may either be issued with a penalty notice of £120 per parent per child (discounted to £60 if paid within 21 days), or your case could be referred by the Local Authority directly to the Magistrates' Court.

Fullhurst Community College aims to produce confident, responsible, well-educated students who can fulfil positive roles in society.  We believe that learning takes place in an orderly, purposeful environment.

• Students are expected to act in a sensible, courteous and responsible manner at all times, respecting other people, their property and contributing to a happy, learning environment.
• Students’ language should never be offensive and students should show respect for others by their behaviour.
• Students should present themselves as good representatives of the college at all times.

Rewarding positive behaviour

At Fullhurst we are very proud of the excellent attendance, punctuality, attitudes to learning and achievement of our students.  Positive behaviour is consistently acknowledged and celebrated, raising self-esteem and confidence amongst students.

• Positive behaviour is recognised through the awarding of Fullhurst achievement points. Achievement points are awarded to students for good attendance, behaviour, punctuality and excellent work. These achievement points lead to students being awarded our Bronze, Silver and Gold achievement badges which  are linked to  percentages off the cost of end of term reward trips.
• Positive behaviour is recognised and rewarded in every lesson through direct praise.
• Positive behaviour is communicated to parents and carers through phone calls, text messages, postcards and faculty certificates.
• Rewards trips are run during the course of the academic year.
• At the end of each half term we will celebrate these achievements in assemblies, during which faculty achievement badges will be awarded to students in all year groups.

Lateness

It is important that students arrive on time to each and every lesson ready to start their learning.

• If a student is late to a lesson (after the late bell), they will be  given a 5 minute detention with the class teacher (the detention can take place at break, lunch or after college). If the student fails to complete their 5 minute detention, then then this will automatically be increased to a 20 minute faculty detention to take place at lunch time or after college.
• If a student is late to lessons twice in a day they will be given a 30 minute detention after school.
• If a student is late to school they will be given a 30 minute detention after school.
• If a student is late to school twice in a week they will be given an hour detention after school, which parents / carers will be informed of.

Behaviour protocol

At Fullhurst, our aim is to ensure students learn successfully in a safe environment.  If this is affected then staff follow this protocol:

Further detail can be found in the Fullhurst Behaviour Management Policy.  Should you have any queries or concerns regarding behaviour, please speak to the relevant Head of Year.

Introduction

At Fullhurst Community College, we believe homework helps students to both consolidate and re-call learning that they have completed in school and to gain new knowledge and skills. Homework will vary and will include revision, reading, research and practical exercises.

In years 7, 8 and 9 students’ homework is comprised of reading, recall and Maths exercises. Every two weeks students are issued with a reading booklet in form time, containing a range of different texts (articles, speeches, extracts from stories) which link to what they are learning in their subjects. These pieces of reading have been specifically selected for students at Fullhurst, aiming to build students’ broader curriculum knowledge, enable them to make links between what they are learning in different areas and the wider world, and provide representation of all different types of people in society. Regular reading has been proven to increase students’ achievement across all of their subject areas and this homework ensures that even students who already read widely are given opportunities to widen their exposure to different reading material. The booklets also contain additional practical and creative tasks that students can complete for rewards.

In years 7, 8 and 9, students are also issued with a Knowledge Organiser at the start of each cycle of new learning, and are encouraged through activities in tutor time to build in regular revision at home. In addition to the reading and recall activities that students should be completing regularly at home, they are also set weekly Maths homework to consolidate and practise the Maths they are learning in class.

In years 10 and 11, homework that is set for students varies depending on the subjects they have selected, but will be set regularly and involve regular recall of material, quizzes and practice exam style tasks.

How Parents and carers can help

Parents can help and encourage their children to get into the habit of completing homework and working independently, by supporting them with completing homework at regular times. For example, completing one hour of homework each day when they get home from school.

Failure to complete homework

If a student fails to complete homework by the deadline or to the required standard, the class teacher will set a detention.  If a student repeatedly fails to hand in homework, a further sanction will be imposed.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Review

The Principal and Governing Body have a statutory responsibility regarding homework..   The policy will be promoted and implemented throughout the school.  The policy along with other school policies is available on the school website.  The Deputy Principal will review the policy annually and assess its implementation and effectiveness