Attendance at St Mary’s Primary School, Oxted

At St Mary’s Primary School, we believe that excellent attendance is fundamental to every child’s success, wellbeing, and sense of belonging. Every day matters, and being in school enables children to learn, grow, and fully experience school life.

Our approach to attendance is rooted in our values:

Confidently Me

Regular attendance helps children to develop confidence in themselves as learners. When pupils attend school consistently, they build secure relationships, feel more settled, and are better able to engage in lessons, take risks in their learning, and celebrate their individual strengths. We want every child to feel proud of who they are and confident in what they can achieve.

Belonging Together

Being present in school every day strengthens friendships and fosters a strong sense of community. Attendance is about more than learning; it is about feeling part of something bigger. At St Mary’s, we work in partnership with families to ensure every child feels welcomed, included, and valued as a member of our school family.

Challenged to Contribute

High attendance ensures that pupils can fully access the rich and ambitious curriculum we provide. Each lesson builds on prior learning, and missing school can create gaps that make it harder for children to keep up and contribute effectively. We challenge all pupils to participate, to share their ideas, and to make a positive difference both in the classroom and beyond.

Our Expectations

We expect all pupils to attend school every day unless there is a genuine reason for absence, such as illness or exceptional circumstances. Good attendance habits established in primary school lay the foundation for future success in education and life.

Working in Partnership

We recognise that there are times when attendance can be challenging. At St Mary’s, we take a supportive and understanding approach, working closely with families to remove barriers and ensure every child can attend regularly and confidently.

If you have any concerns about your child’s attendance, please speak to us. Together, we can ensure that every child is able to thrive.

Why Attendance Matters

• Promotes strong academic progress
• Builds confidence and resilience
• Supports friendships and social development
• Enables children to fully engage with school life

When children miss school, they miss vital learning and this can quickly build up.

Did you know…

• 98% attendance = child misses less than 4 days of school in a year.
• 95% attendance = child misses 10 days of learning each year.
• 90% attendance = child misses almost 4 weeks of school each year.
• 80% attendance = your child misses a full year of education over their primary schooling.

Even a few days of absence can make it harder for children to keep up and feel confident in their learning. Absent children also miss out on building social connections and friendships.

At St Mary’s, every child, every day matters.

Together, we ensure that our pupils are confidently themselves,

feel they belong, and are challenged to contribute.