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Absence Reporting & Attendance
Student Absence Reporting
The process of reporting your child absent changed in September 2025.
We request that you use the MCAS App.
- If your child is unwell and unable to attend school you must use the Attendance tab in the MCAS App.
- You will be requested to provide the date of absence and reason.
- The reason for absence must be submitted no later than 8.15am on the first and each subsequent day of absence.
If you need to notify the Attendance Team of a medical appointment, please log it on the MCAS App,
record the absence and forward evidence of this appointment via email to attendance@joa.herts.sch.uk
If you need to notify the Attendance Team of your child being late for school, please send an email to attendance@joa.herts.sch.uk, stating the reason for lateness.
(*Students will be marked as late when they arrive late to school.)
Please remind your child to sign in at Student Reception on late arrival.
Please do not email teachers or other members of staff as this information can be delayed in reaching the Attendance Team which can result in absence alerts being sent unnecessarily to parents.
Requests for Exceptional leave of absence
Exceptional leave of absence
Leave of absence can only be granted in exceptional circumstances.
Each case must be considered on an individual basis, taking into account the context.
The request must be made ahead of the absence.
There is clear Department for Education (DfE) guidance that headteachers must follow.
'Exceptional' is defined as a 'rare, unavoidable and significant event'.
The need or desire for a holiday or absence for the purpose of leisure or recreation is not considered 'exceptional'.
The DfE gives some examples of exceptional circumstances:
· family emergencies such as life-threatening illness or death of a parent or sibling
· one off major events such as direct family weddings or funerals - authorisation is
generally limited to the day of the event
· religious observance - days which are exclusively set apart for religious celebration
· high standard music, art or sport programmes such as a county youth orchestra or
professional football club's academy programme. Documentary evidence will be required
· interviews and transitions to new schools or colleges
· a temporary, time-limited part-time timetable designed around health needs - this would
be proposed by the school or at the direct request of a medical professional, supported
by evidence
Contextual factors that will be considered are:
· the time of year when the request has been made and how this impacts the stage of education
· the child's current attendance and attendance in the previous academic year
· whether exceptional leave has been requested or taken in previous academic years for
a similar purpose
· duration of the absence
If exceptional leave is granted, the number of days is at the headteacher's discretion.
Research shows a powerful link between poor school attendance and poor educational outcomes. Attendance of 96% or above is considered acceptable by the DfE. When measured across the school year, attendance at 95% is equivalent to missing 2 weeks of school, or 50 lessons.
Attendance at 90% is considered persistent absenteeism and equivalent to missing 4 weeks of school, or 100 lessons.