Pilgrims’ Cross CE Aided Primary School seeks to ensure that all its pupils receive a full-time education, which maximises opportunities for each pupil to realise his/her true potential.

All school staff will work with pupils and their families to ensure each pupil attends school regularly and punctually.

Attendance has long been recognised as being fundamental to attainment. "High rates of attendance are closely related to success in public examinations. In schools with unsatisfactory or poor results, a strong correlation with low attendance rates is discernible" (OFSTED). It has been shown that for every 5% of absence a child or young person has, she/he will drop one grade at GCSE. Therefore a child who is classed as a persistent absentee (i.e. absent for more than 20% of school days) will be at significant risk of falling behind with their studies and of not achieving the 5 A*- C grades including English and Mathematics threshold at GCSE.

We, therefore, expect all children to be in school, on time, unless they are genuinely ill or have had a pre-requested absence authorised by the Head teacher.

Please note, the school does not authorise holidays during term-time.

The school also tracks every child's attendance and will issue regular letters to parents to ensure they are aware of their child's attendance rate. We also offer a lot of support to children and their families to  increase the children's attendance. We therefore can achieve our target of an overall attendance rate of 97% for this academic year.