Student Attendance Policy

If you know you are going to be absent from college, please complete this form in advance. Alternatively please complete this form and submit to your tutor.

If you have not completed this form in advance of your absence,
please call 02380 577 666 each day that you are absent between 8:30am and 10:00am.

Students' Guide

• Introduction
• Attendance Policy
• What absence is authorised?
• Attendance Hotline
• What absence will not be authorised?
• Does attendance affect whether I can progress to another course?
• Does attendance affect my college bursary?
• What about punctuality?
• Persistent Absence
• References

Introduction

This guide explains City College's policy and approach to student attendance. Excellent attendance is crucial for you to be successful in your course so that you obtain the qualifications you need for work or further study. Excellent attendance also helps build up your employability skills which all employers and businesses need their staff to demonstrate.

Policy

You are expected to establish and maintain excellent attendance in all college classes and other learning activities which are part of your timetable. The expectation at City College is that excellent attendance is 100% attendance.

At City College we do recognise there may be rare occasions when you may not be able to attend because of circumstances completely out of your control. These situations are dealt with on an individual basis and you must not assume there is a certain level of absence that the college will allow or accept.

What absence is authorised?

Any absence will be considered as unauthorised in the first instance with the exception of 2 days religious observance and for any absences due to disability where reasonable adjustments have been previously agreed to.

For your absence to be authorised you are required to complete a self certification form and provide the evidence or documentation required. This will depend on the circumstances of the absence and the table in Appendix 1 gives full details of what you must provide.

The self-certification form is on Citybit and when you have completed this it will be reviewed and your teacher or another member of college staff who will let you know if the absence will be authorised. Appendix 2 shows you what the parts of the self certification form look like.

Absence to accommodate your religious beliefs and to attend religious events outside the UK will be authorised in advance and a work plan will be agreed as part of this.  Any work not completed may result in disciplinary procedures being applied.

If you are on course where due to ill health or injury working in the workshop would be unsafe or impractical you are still required to attend as opportunities to complete theory work will be provided by your teachers.

Attendance Hotline

If you are unable to attend for college at short notice you should contact the attendance hotline by phoning 023 80 577 666. At busy times your call may not be answered in person if the operator is on another call. You should leave a message stating your name, student ID number, the classes you will miss and when you expect to be back. Phoning the hotline does not mean your absence has been authorised and you will still need to complete a self certificate form on Citybit.

If you have a disclosed sensory disability and are unable to use a voice activated telephone alternative arrangements including texting specific staff will be considered as acceptable method of contacting the college.

What absence will not be authorised?

For absence monitoring purposes the following list of reasons will be deemed unauthorised absence

If you think your absence is due to any equality strand issue the college will consider your request. Where is this authorised a work plan will be agreed as part of this.

Does attendance affect whether I can progress to another course?

Your attendance is an indication of your commitment and your teacher will take this into account when considering any application you make for other courses in the college.

Does attendance affect my college bursary?

Any support you receive through the college's bursary scheme is dependent on your attendance record. If you are in receipt of a college bursary and your attendance is of concern your tutor will review this with you.

What about punctuality?

This is very important too. Good punctuality demonstrates your commitment and that you are keen to learn and progress. Your punctuality will be noted by your teacher and where there are issues these will be discussed with an action plan agreed to improve this.

If you have an underlying health issue or are a designated carer and this may impact on your attendance the college will actively consider reasonable adjustments to accommodate your needs and circumstances.

Fitness to attend college

You must only attend college if you are in a state to take part in lessons or sessions, benefit from the teaching and not cause undue disruption or concern to your colleagues or staff. In particular you must not be under the influence of alcohol, illegal substances or suffering the after effects of the consumption or use of alcohol or drugs. You must attend college alert and aware of what is going on around you, be able to avoid risk to yourself or others and conduct yourself in line with health and safety requirements. Fitness to attend also includes having had enough sleep to concentrate and focus on your learning. 

If any teacher considers that you are not fit to be on college premises for any of the reasons above s/he is authorised to send you home and tell you not to attend until you are in a fit state to do so.

Recording your attendance and punctuality

The college will record your attendance for all your timetabled lessons/sessions as either present or absence. Late attendance will also be recorded. Absence which is authorised does not count as attendance it simply means there is a reason for your absence which is acceptable. Your attendance details are available for you to see on your City Bit account.

Is there a link to the student disciplinary procedure?

If your attendance, or punctuality or fitness to be at college does not meet the college's expectations the issue will be formally considered under the student disciplinary procedure. 

Persistent absence

If you do not attend for four successive weeks and have not contacted us, then the college will assume you have left your course and will amend its records to show this.

References

Information about attendance and punctuality will be provided to prospective employers and other colleges if requested.