College Leadership Team

Attendance

At St Mary’s, we believe that every lesson counts and that the first step towards successful learning is turning up to school, ready to learn. While attendance alone does not guarantee positive educational outcomes, positive outcomes are unlikely to occur without good attendance.

Every day counts. A day here or there may not seem like much, but missing just one day per fortnight equates to around four weeks of learning each year. These missed opportunities can make it more challenging for students to keep up with their classmates, develop key skills, and build confidence in their learning.

Regular attendance helps students to:

Develop strong literacy and numeracy skills.
Build positive relationships with teachers and peers.
Establish healthy routines and good habits.
Increase confidence and engagement in learning.
Achieve their full academic potential.
Feel connected to their school community.

Attendance at Pastoral Group

We have noticed an increase in students arriving after 8:25 am and consequently missing Pastoral Group.

Pastoral Group is an important part of our school day. It provides students with an opportunity to connect with their peers and Pastoral Mentor, organise themselves and their diaries for the day, and establish a consistent routine which is imperative for a successful school day.

How can you support your child in their attendance and punctuality?

Establish a consistent evening and morning routine to ensure your child gets enough sleep and starts the day organised and well rested.
Aim to arrive at school on time every day, allowing your child to settle into class and begin learning with their peers.
Talk positively about school and learning, helping your child see school as an important and enjoyable place to be.
Schedule appointments outside school hours where possible to minimise missed learning time.
Encourage resilience and independence, helping students understand that feeling a little tired or reluctant some mornings is normal and can be overcome.
Stay connected with Pastoral Mentors and Heads of Year, and communicate any concerns early so that support can be provided when needed.
Celebrate good attendance by recognising your child's efforts and commitment to coming to school each day.

AB Tutor – Digital Learning Software

We are pleased to announce that part of our digital learning program now includes use of AB Tutor. AB Tutor is a software monitoring program designed to support focused learning, responsible technology use, and consistent classroom technology management.

The program provides teachers with greater visibility of student device use during lessons, helping teachers to guide students back to learning when needed. Additionally, it allows teachers to monitor and observe student responses in real time to allow for more effective feedback on formative work.

The program will support learning, promote wellbeing and digital safety, encourage digital citizenship, and enhance teaching and learning. This software will be in place by the end of Term 3.