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

[cricketmum84]

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.

I once got a rather terse phone call from school about these rewards. One of mine got one but refused to go up and get it. The HT asked why she said because she didn't want it. She was further badgered by the head to give a proper excuse. She eventually said because it discriminates against people like her brother who would never achieve an award and she didn't believe I the antiquated system of awarding perfect health.
The head was more pissed off that she got a louder cheer and applause than he had, as she had disrupted the whole school assembly. That he didn't appreciate being lectured at.
I was already "that" parent as I had previously complained about the system and that rewards should include all their pupils. Resilience can come from a number of different ways that doesn't have to include perfect attendance.

Let them jump the lunch queue? WTAF! Bullshit discrimination!

Yes, it’s important to get them in as often as they can attend but this is diabolical. And especially in light of Covid too - how is it supposed to work if a child has it? Should they come in regardless?!

I think it's the 'resilience' that is the annoying cherry on top as the most resilient people I know live with debilitating, chronic diseases that preclude 100% attendance at work or school.

I wonder if there is an attendance problem at school or if it's part of a checklist for an idiot's guide to improvement after Academisation or a new head?

Boils my pee that this still goes on & from experience it can lead to bullying kids with health issues too. So discriminatory & I don't know how the he'll schools still get away with it 🤬

100% attendance is a bonus prize for already being lucky.

It's utter bullshit.

I really thought this kind of thing was over. The stupid 100% attendance certificates and badges in primary were bad enough.

I googled the phrase and was astounded to see how many schools do it. Just a few examples:

www.bishopyoungacademy.co.uk/school-information/the-100-attendance-club chance to win a helicopter ride and free school trips

carletonhigh.patrust.org.uk/attendance-2/ films and parties

www.bruntcliffe.leeds.sch.uk/key-information/attendance/ lunch queue jumping and helicopter rides

www.farnley.leeds.sch.uk/100-attendance-club-trip-to-yorkshire-wildlife-park/ day trip to wildlife park (weird to celebrate 100% attendance with a day out of school)

@lockdownmadnessdotcom

That cannot be real!

and

I am guessing it is another [expletive] academy?

Yup it's an academy x

@Kendodd

Attendance awards are discriminatory and bullshit

As are just about all other awards.
Suppose you're the thick kid and are shit at sport. You're never going to win anything meanwhile the naturally athletic brainy kid beats you at everything without even trying.
I agree that that is a very poorly worded, I'll thought out letter and award though. I'm not against recognising good attendance though.

Why, though? What is it about attendance that needs recognising? Attendance for children is 99% out of their control - illness/ parents deciding to keep them off for whatever reason, etc. Why should we reward (see also penalise) kids for something they can’t control.

No one can win everything, even tho one wants them to.

Lol who are the losers actually checking who has 100 percent attendance every week. What a waste of money from the school to pay someone to do that.

It is very discriminatory and in my opinion where children have a disability probably a breach of the Equality Act

This sort of bullshit has me fuming.
It’s a “congratulations on being lucky enough to have a good immune system” badge or a “well done for coming to school and spreading your germs even when you’re ill” badge. 🤬🤬

@BanningTheWordNaice

Lol who are the losers actually checking who has 100 percent attendance every week. What a waste of money from the school to pay someone to do that.

One of the schools I linked to appears to have about 6 attendance officers. Our school spends its money on teachers.

I can't imagine persistent truants are going to be enticed by being able to jump the lunch queue personally

Bonkers idea.

It also discriminates against families with more complicated circumstances, at the extreme end, refugee families are entitled to be housed but have no control over where and can be moved at a moments notice, leaving literally destitute parents having to figure out new routes to school, come up with additional bus fares to get there etc. it’s hard to think of children who are showing more resilience than those children.

can it not be challenged as anti equal ops discriminating for disabled & those who have chronic illness?
& Smug
I think rewards (not worn but acknowledged another way) should be about students overcoming challenges or improving or working hard or obtaining high marks (preferably without private tuition!)
ie something the student has done
Is there an Ofsted issue about student attendance or something?

@Dontbeme
That is appalling, I'm so sorry that happened.

This annoys me so much. My child has a condition meaning he has doctors and hospital appointments to go to so he will never have 100% attendance. It's so discriminatory.

Not surprised at the schoo! In Leeds on the list posted. Always had some batshit ideas.

It’s a lazy, unimaginative way of trying to improve attendance so they can tick another box for Ofsted.

I believe Ofsted are wise to it these days and expect to see far more effort on the part of the school.

WTF - an award for those lucky enough to not get sick one day or have any issues like family emergency - also culturally and ethnically it's discriminatory and bollocks towards those who don't follow the Christian calendar and discriminatory expected "norms" e.g. If you have a significant (not Christian)religious event or observance and you take your kid out of school. Potentially even racist.

Don’t worry, she’s better of without it. Lots of pupils will achieve 100% by half term because it’s the end of summer before the cold and flu season. So they’ll join the club, get their badge and rewards. However, come the winter, the majority won’t maintain this attendance, will be expelled from the club and have to give their badge back- like a dishonourable discharge. Far better not to have joined in the first place. Don’t think the school has really thought it through!

@BanningTheWordNaice

Lol who are the losers actually checking who has 100 percent attendance every week. What a waste of money from the school to pay someone to do that.

The attendance officer is obliged to monitor attendance, checking who is at 100% is a 30 second report job on sims.

I would bring this up as a disability discrimination issue .

100% agree with asking for reasonable adjustments for disabled children. I hate these awards. I have one typical, fairly healthy child, and one with congenital heart-lung defects. The year she didn't get her certificate despite her only absence being 5 days for heart surgery she was sobbing that she shouldn't have had the operation, what kind of messed up message is that sending a child?