Key information
Attendance and authorised absence
Regular attendance is expected. Planned absence must be requested in advance and supported by the appropriate evidence.
Planned absence
Request it before the event
For a planned absence, a parent or carer should normally give the learner's tutor at least two days' notice and provide evidence before the event.
- Supplying evidence after an event will not normally make the absence authorised.
- Tutors and course managers may refuse requests they consider unreasonable and will take repeated or similar absences into account.
- Deliberately misleading BCIS about an absence may lead to disciplinary action.
What may be authorised
Reason and evidence
| Reason | Evidence or approval needed |
|---|---|
| Medical or dental appointment that cannot be arranged outside school hours | Appointment letter or doctor's note, plus tutor authorisation |
| Agreed caring responsibilities | The Course Manager must be informed when the caring responsibility begins |
| Religious holiday | Tutor authorisation |
| Career-related open day or interview | Invitation or open-day letter, plus tutor authorisation |
| Approved extra-curricular activity | Tutor authorisation |
| Funeral or wedding | Letter from a parent or guardian, plus tutor authorisation; normally one day per event |
| Severe disruption to public transport | Tutor authorisation; BCIS will verify the disruption |
| Court attendance, probation meeting, police appointment or similar | Letter from the relevant authority, plus tutor authorisation |
| Appointment with an adviser that cannot reasonably avoid school hours | Email confirmation |
| Territorial Army, Cadet Force or Reserve Forces event | Invitation letter |
- 01A parent or carer should tell the learner's tutor or the Deputy Head of School as soon as they know the learner will be absent, including for sickness.
- 02Give the reason and provide any evidence listed above. Staff will check it, update the register and discuss any concerns with the learner or their parent or carer.
- 03The BCIS absence line accepts calls, text messages and voicemail if staff cannot answer immediately.
- 04If a learner becomes unwell during the school day, they must tell their tutor. The tutor will seek consent from a parent or carer before the learner leaves the site.