Attendance

Why Your Attendance Matters

At Old Buckenham High School, we want you to do well — not just in lessons, but in life. One of the simplest and most powerful ways to give yourself the best chance of success is to come to school every day.

Why is Attendance Important?

When you’re in school every day, you:

• Learn more and remember more
• Feel more confident in lessons
• Stay on top of your work
• Build better friendships
• Take part in clubs, trips, and events

Missing school can make things harder — even just a few days off can mean you fall behind or feel less confident.

Think 90% Sounds Good?

It might sound like a high score on a test — but in attendance terms, 90% means you’re missing 1 day every 2 weeks. That’s over 4 weeks off across a school year!

If you missed that much of a TV show, a game, or a training session — you'd notice, right? It’s the same with your learning.

The Facts

• People who go to school more often do better in exams
• Better attendance = more choices later in life
• Being in school helps with mental health and routines
• Even if lessons feel tough, showing up is always the first step

What You Can Do

You don’t have to be perfect — but you should aim to be in school every day, on time, and ready to learn.

Here’s how you can help:

• Get into a morning routine that works for you
• Get a good night’s sleep
• Speak to someone if you’re struggling — we’re here to help
• Take pride in turning up and trying your best

Need Support?

If there’s something stopping you from getting to school, talk to your form tutor, Head of Key Stage, or a member of the pastoral team. We’re not here to judge — we’re here to help.

Every Day Counts

Even one day can make a difference. So when your alarm goes off in the morning, remember:

Turning up is the first step to being brilliant.

You’ve got this — and we’re with you all the way.