Attendance

At The Bulmershe School, we believe that every day of learning counts. Regular school attendance is more than just a routine - it lays the foundation for success both in and out of the classroom. Whether your child is in Year 7 or preparing for GCSEs, showing up each day helps build confidence, achievement, and a strong sense of belonging.

If your child is unable to attend school, it is vital that you tell us as early as possible each morning.

Report a Child's Absence

The Link Between Attendance and Achievement

Students who attend school regularly are significantly more likely to achieve strong exam results. Just a 10% drop in attendance (equivalent to around 19 days across the academic year) can create knowledge gaps, reduce grades, and lead to missed opportunities. Every lesson missed is a step behind - especially in fast-paced subjects like Maths, Science and English.

More Than Just Academics

Attending school consistently supports your child’s personal development, too. It allows them to:

• Build friendships and strengthen social skills.
• Develop emotional resilience.
• Feel connected to the school community.
• Access mental health and pastoral support.

How Parents Can Support Good Attendance

We understand that family life is busy and challenges arise. Here are a few simple strategies to help:

• Set a consistent routine with regular bedtimes and morning wake-up times.
• Prepare the night before to ease the school run.
• Talk positively about school and celebrate small wins.
• Stay in touch with us if your child is struggling or anxious about attending.

What If My Child Is Finding It Difficult to Attend?

If your child is facing barriers to attendance—whether due to health, anxiety, or personal challenges—our dedicated Attendance and Pastoral Teams are here to help. We offer:

• Personalised mentoring and support.
• Meetings with families to understand and address concerns.
• Referrals to trusted external services when needed.

Working Together Makes a Difference

We know that attendance is a shared responsibility between school and families. By working in partnership, we can make sure every student has the chance to reach their full potential.

If you have any questions, or if your child is experiencing difficulties, please don’t hesitate to contact our Attendance Team. We are here to listen and help.

Let’s keep striving for every day in school, every child thriving.

Parent Pastoral Coffee Morning

Following the positive feedback from families who attended our March event, we’re pleased to invite you to our next Pastoral Coffee Morning on Wednesday 14th May, from 8:30 – 9:30 am in the school library.

At The Bulmershe School, we understand that every child’s journey is different. These informal coffee mornings are a chance for families to chat to key members of our pastoral team – without needing an appointment. Staff from Oasis, SIGNAL, Attendance, Year Teams and Leadership will all be on hand to listen, offer advice, and point you towards the right support.

If your child is struggling with attendance, anxiety, or any barrier to learning, please don’t hesitate to come along. You’re welcome to drop in at any point during the hour, and younger siblings are very welcome too.

To help us prepare (and make sure there’s enough tea and coffee!), please sign up below:

Sign up to attend our Pastoral Coffee Morning

If you have any questions, feel free to email us at: attendance@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk

Introducing our HERO Attendance Programme - Summer Term 2025

This term, our attendance team are on a mission to reward responsibility with our brand-new HERO Programme  –  recognising students who are Here Everyday, Ready Ontime.

From 5th May, students who achieve 97% attendance and 100% punctuality (to both tutor time and every lesson) will officially earn HERO status. HERO students will be awarded a digital badge on ClassCharts and receive a brilliant 25 achievement points for their efforts.

We all know that good attendance and punctuality are key ingredients for success. In fact, national data shows that students with 95% attendance or above go on to achieve significantly better GCSE results.

So let’s all aim high, arrive in tutor rooms by 8:30am, and finish the term strong. Whether you’re a Year 7 just finding your feet or a Year 11 powering through revision, every day really does count.

Let’s all be HEROs!