Attendance and Punctuality
At Blackpool Skills Academy, we are committed to helping every student succeed — and good attendance and punctuality are essential parts of that success.
Students who attend regularly and arrive on time make stronger progress, form better relationships, and are better prepared for life beyond school.
We ask all parents and carers to support our high expectations by ensuring that students are in school, on time, every day unless there is a genuine reason for absence.
We work closely with students and families to promote excellent attendance, remove barriers, and make sure every young person benefits from a full, rich education.
You can read more in our Attendance Policy in the Key Information section.
How to Report an Absence
If your child is too unwell to attend school:
- Please call us on 01253 759854
- Contact us before 10:00am if possible
- Provide your child's full name and the reason for their absence
- Call us each day that your child is absent
For longer periods of absence or repeated illnesses, we may ask for medical evidence to support your child's attendance.
Keeping Students Safe
Safeguarding is a priority at Blackpool Skills Academy. If we have not been informed of an absence, our Family Support Worker will call parents or carers to check the child’s wellbeing. This will happen every day the student is absent — even if illness has been previously reported.
We cannot assume a child is still unwell unless we hear from parents daily. If needed, we will follow up through letters, additional phone calls, or home visits to ensure every child is safe.
Please make sure we always have your most up-to-date contact details.
Understanding Absences
You can find full information about different types of absence in our Attendance Policy.
- Authorised Absence:
Approved absence based on a valid reason (e.g., illness, medical appointment, family emergency).
- Unauthorised Absence:
Absence where no acceptable reason has been given or no communication has been received.
Good communication is essential — please keep us updated if circumstances arise that may affect your child's attendance.
The Importance of Punctuality
We expect students to arrive at school by 10:00am each morning for registration.
Students arriving after 10:00am without a valid reason will be marked as unauthorised late, which counts as an absence for the morning.
Being on time builds responsibility and helps students start the day calmly and confidently — essential skills for their futures in further education and work.
Together, we can make sure that every student has the best opportunity to succeed — by valuing strong attendance, good punctuality, and a positive commitment to learning. Thank you for your support.