At last, a uniform system for recording absences. Gone are the days of unique markings in the register to indicate pupils with a dodgy attendance record and dubious parental notes.
Step forward Circular 503, which tells it like it is, with six codes for authorised absences including, unsurprisingly, A for Absent and, more complex, E for “Authorised parental holiday authorised by headteacher as a result of traumatic domestic circumstances for the cohesion and well-being of the family.”
There are a further six codes which actually count as “Attendance” including, intriguingly enough, H for Holiday and C for Closure Days.
Jotter has to commend the “Unauthorised Absences” codes, of which there are but a lonely two. U stands for Truancyunexplained absence. Fair enough.
But G will record “Parental holiday holidays during term time which are influenced by financial or meteorological reasons”.
Whatever could they mean?
