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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think this is fucked up (school 100% attendance)

523 replies

cricketmum84 · 07/09/2021 16:35

Recieved this letter from school before the start of term tomorrow.

I have a lovely, well behaved and studious year 8 girl who would love to attend 100%. However she had a bowel condition that causes extreme pain 2-3 days per month, enough so that she is unable to attend school.

Unfortunately she doesn't have the "resilience" needed to get these rewards.

Utter twats.

OP posts:
Batsh1tcrazy · 08/09/2021 20:08

Awful. My kids try to attend everyday however soon as a bug hits mine its spread all round having 4 kids so we never have 100% attendance. Plus with covid we have even less attendance. This annoys me as much as awards at the end of the year. At my kids school it's usually the misbehaved kids that get rewards, yet the kids that's have always behaved get left on the side line (unless their parents on the PTA of course 🙄)

Original poster
cricketmum84 · 08/09/2021 20:36

Just want to make it clear that reading further down the letter does say that covid related absences will not affect attendance levels so I suppose that's one good thing.

However the issue still stands that they are telling kids that not falling ill at all or having any circumstances where they miss school is down to their "resilience" and nothing to do with luck or immune systems. And also the annoyance that those with long term conditions such as my DD or those with SEND don't stand a chance of attaining these "rewards".

Year 8 DD was angry when she heard about the incentive this morning. In her words "sod them all, I'll just take a packed lunch" 😂

No response from school today and I've been tied up with work so I will follow up tomorrow.

OP posts:
bellocchild · 08/09/2021 20:37

You could reply that you think this is total disgrace, and descriminatory. Put it on record.

Whichcatthatcat · 08/09/2021 20:52

It's also religious discrimination, as not all high holy days fall in the school holidays for all religions.

PearlyShamps · 08/09/2021 20:57

AS IF this club will discourage pupils from taking time off sick if they're unwell. And should they be coming in to school if they're unwell?? I don't mean colds - but what about things like tonsilitis, and other undesirable infections?? Its bloody ridiculous

Littlepaws18 · 08/09/2021 21:03

It's the government who have set this standard. Doesn't matter how outstanding the school is, if attendance is below National average that school is see as requires improvement.

It's not unique to this school is country wide.

Attendance figures do massively link to performance at GCSE. If your child is missing 2-3 days a month that's really excessive, and will impact her results.

Littlepaws18 · 08/09/2021 21:04

Covid absence doesn't link to overall school figures

Original poster
cricketmum84 · 08/09/2021 21:05

@Littlepaws18

It's the government who have set this standard. Doesn't matter how outstanding the school is, if attendance is below National average that school is see as requires improvement.

It's not unique to this school is country wide.

Attendance figures do massively link to performance at GCSE. If your child is missing 2-3 days a month that's really excessive, and will impact her results.

Thanks for that Hmm what would you like me to do with a child who's bowel condition is so painful that she can barely stand sometimes?? Shepherd her in with a "you'll be fine"??
OP posts:
DucksFlyTogether · 08/09/2021 21:08

I remember my secondary school attempting this back in the early naughties. Nobody achieved it, because nobody gave a shit about a certificate for turning up everyday at the end of term.

School gave up on it after one academic year that is 100% attendance.

But they did switch to a 3 tier approach. 95% and 98% and then 100%

If I remember the prizes were chocolate just more chocolate if you attended more. But it seemed more achievable I suppose because you didn't loose out the minute you had tonsillitis.

LongCOVID · 08/09/2021 21:11

Quote the Equalities Act to them - it's unlawful to discriminate. And point out there's a fucking pandemic and forcing children to attend when ill is a bloody stupid idea.
Then tell Ofsted.
And your local public health office.

madamovaries · 08/09/2021 21:12

This is terrible. Isn't it encouraging sick children to come to school, in the middle of a pandemic?!

saraclara · 08/09/2021 21:14

It's not unique to this school is country wide.

It's not unique (unfortunately) but nor is it recommended or proscribed nationally. Yes, OFSTED measures schools by their attendance records, but there is absolutely no requirement for schools to address attendance this way.

It's absolutely discriminatory, and from a public health point of view (even without Covid in the mix), reckless and stupid. And that's without even considering what it does to the kids. (My anxious and perfectionist DD would have been absolutely distraught to be ill, and 'fail' at attendance). Most kids have absolutely no control over their attendance, especially in primary schools where the parents get to decide.

Sirzy · 08/09/2021 21:16

@Littlepaws18

It's the government who have set this standard. Doesn't matter how outstanding the school is, if attendance is below National average that school is see as requires improvement.

It's not unique to this school is country wide.

Attendance figures do massively link to performance at GCSE. If your child is missing 2-3 days a month that's really excessive, and will impact her results.

I have asked this a few times to people defending it but strangely no answers. How does this actually begin to tackle the actual reasons for poor attendance?

Does this badge have some sort of magically power which cures chronic illnesses and stops problems at home and in school which are barriers to attending?

rachelvbwho · 08/09/2021 21:18

It's horrific... I hate any form of attendance awards.

Not just for illneass/health reasons but what about those who have had time off for compassionate reasons!

Imagine calling a child into the office who has just have days off because they lost a parent:

"Sorry your dad died... But you don't have 100% attendance anymore so hand the badge back and you can no longer be in the exclusive club-maybe if you were more resilient?! "

Its really shit!

Helgahellcat · 08/09/2021 21:18

This is beyond ridiculous! YANBU.

DinkyDiggies · 08/09/2021 21:22

That’s helpful... given that there is expected to be a surge in cases as children go back to school. What genius has decided that while many teens may have very mild covid just getting them all in even if they feel a bit rough or have a bit of a cough is a good idea.
I thought in the middle of a pandemic this nonsense would be discouraged. And that’s without the blatant health discrimination that your daughter faces.

Harmonypuss · 08/09/2021 21:30

My younger son's primary and secondary schools awarded certificates to anyone who maintained 100% attendance each term with an extra certificate if they completed the whole year (along with a book token in secondary school).
My son was fortunate enough to be healthy enough to maintain 100% throughout his entire time at both schools.
At the age of 10, his grandmother passed away and he was concerned that by missing half a day from school for her funeral he would miss out on his 100%, but the school forgave him this half day and awarded him his certificate.
The following year when he was due to move from primary to secondary school, the head teacher contacted me to say that she was personally buying him a gift because he was the only child to go through the whole 7 years at the school without losing any time, in over 30 years. She had been at this school for all those years and was retiring at the same time as my son was moving up to secondary school and felt that his rewards was most definitely well deserved.
I still have all the certificates including the one that specifically states that he was the first to achieve this in over 30 years at his primary school. He's now 25 and thinks these are "a bit cringe" but at the time he was always proud to be receiving them.
I disagree with the OP's school making 100% club members "show off" their badges and I feel that giving them 'lunch queue jumping privileges' to be totally wrong, they don't need to rub everyone else's noses in it, especially if they have genuine health issues which prevent them from achieving 100% attendance. I feel that a mention in assembly at the end of term and maybe a small token for full year full attendance to be far more appropriate.

frazzledfragglefromfragglerock · 08/09/2021 21:33

They seem to have overlooked a little global pandemic here too..... what a time to write home about this!!!

DrBlackbird · 08/09/2021 21:39

Reminds me of how some parents at my DCs infant school would proudly declare how they ALWAYS sent their DC to school regardless of how ill they were. Oblivious to how this impacted on every other child Angry

itsgettingwierd · 08/09/2021 21:43

@threatmatrix

So what, I never got it either but I knew it was to make the ones that had bad attendance try and do better. Maybe she will get something else she’s good at. Stop trying to see discrimination in everything. It really pusses me off.
But it is discrimination.

This is one place where it actually is as opposed to just being called that.

Everybody must be given equal opportunities. If someone is unable to achieve something because of disability by law you must make reasonable adjustments.

And persistent offenders who have much bigger things going on in their lives aren't likely to turn up daily for a badge and lunch queue pass!

You don't - for example - recover from sever Mh problems that prevent you from being able to face attending because someone offers you a badge.

If only it were that easy Grin

Copium · 08/09/2021 21:47

Discriminatory against less healthy kids, also encourages kids to show “resilience” by going to school with potentially contagious illnesses.

EatSprayGlove · 08/09/2021 21:47

I absolutely hate attendance rewards but schools do get criticised by Ofsted if they don't demo things like this to show they are trying to improve attendance. That said our school disregards chronic illness absence. It causes lots of fights in our house when we ended up with a child who got the award last year and one who had a day off due to a temp Hmm

itsgettingwierd · 08/09/2021 21:47

@Littlepaws18

It's the government who have set this standard. Doesn't matter how outstanding the school is, if attendance is below National average that school is see as requires improvement.

It's not unique to this school is country wide.

Attendance figures do massively link to performance at GCSE. If your child is missing 2-3 days a month that's really excessive, and will impact her results.

Well next time my ds with a degenerative neurological condition collapses on the floor with all 4 limbs spasming and cannot stay awake for the next 3-6 hours - I'll stick him on a wheel bed, shove him through he door and tell to be resilient.

After all - he'll get a badge WinkGrin

PugMumm · 08/09/2021 21:48

That's so toxic ....

Mollymoostoo · 08/09/2021 21:50

I work in education and this is unreasonable. We do weekly and termly awards so everyone has the chance to achieve.
But to be honest when they get to year 10, none of them will want to wear a badge so it won't work for long.

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