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Attendance and Absence in Scottish Schools 2006/07

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Annex A

The table below gives the full definitions of attendance and absence from 2003/04

Attendance

participation in the programme of educational activities arranged by the school.

In addition to actual attendance within the school premises, it covered:

  • work experience
  • educational visits
  • day and residential visits to outdoor centres
  • college/consortium school study
  • interviews and visits relating to further and/or higher education
  • debates, sports, musical or theatrical productions etc. arranged by, or in conjunction with, the school
  • activities in connection with psychological services
  • school medical examinations off-site
  • study leave
  • receiving tuition via hospital or outreach teaching services
  • medical and dental appointments
  • sickness with appropriate educational provision

Authorised absence

  • sickness without education provision
  • short-term exceptional domestic circumstances
  • family holidays in exceptional circumstances only

Other authorised absence, including:

  • bereavement
  • lack of transport - including due to bad weather
  • religious observance
  • meetings prior to and in court
  • attendance at or in connection with a Children's Hearing or Care Review
  • weddings of immediate family
  • agreed debates, sports, musical or theatrical productions not arranged by or in conjunction with the school
  • extended absence in relation to children of travelling families

Unauthorised absence

  • truancy (unauthorised absence from school for any period as a result of premeditated or spontaneous action on the part of pupil, parent or both) and unexplained absence
  • long-term exceptional domestic circumstances
  • family holidays during term time, other than in exceptional circumstances
  • other unauthorised absences, e.g. where a parent is in dispute with a school

Absence due to temporary exclusion

Extended leave

recorded separately outwith the figures for attendance and absence, and includes circumstances such as:

  • extended overseas educational trips not organised by the school
  • short-term parental placement abroad
  • family returning to its country of origin (to care for a relative, or for cultural reasons)

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Page updated: Tuesday, December 11, 2007