Good attendance and punctuality are essential to success at college and beyond. On this page, you’ll find everything you need to know about our expectations, how to report an absence, and the steps to follow if you’re late or need time away from college.
Attendance
Attendance should be a priority for all our students and their parents/carers. A strong attendance rate will serve as an advantage in the future when you apply to jobs, universities, or other pathways. However, we understand that unavoidable circumstances can sometimes occur. In these cases, please inform the college as soon as possible.
Planned Absences
Planned absences can occur due to medical appointments, driving tests, family funerals, or trips abroad. Prior to the planned absence, we ask you to visit your Personal Progress Tutor with any evidence you can provide in hand. You will be advised as to whether your absence will be classed as permitted or unauthorised and given any necessary work to catch up on.
Unplanned Absences
In the case of an illness or emergency, please contact the college by emailing absence@jcc.ac.uk before 9:00 a.m. on the day of absence, giving your name and ID number along with your reason for absence.
Lateness
If you happen to arrive late to college, you should go straight to class, entering the classroom with minimal disruption to your peers, and you will be marked as late. You should speak to your teacher at the end of the class to explain the reason for your lateness and check that they haven’t marked you as absent. If you are late to class on a regular basis, a discussion will occur with your Personal Progress Tutor, and further action may be taken accordingly.
Attendance is key to achievement.
Lessons are where teachers explain tricky concepts, give feedback, and answer questions in real time. Missing even one class can leave gaps that are difficult to fill later after falling behind.
Regular attendance builds momentum. If you miss a day, it’s easy to fall behind and harder to get back into the flow of study.
Teachers can explain things in a different way, give one-to-one guidance, and offer advice and guidance if you’re there in person.
Consistent attendance means you know exactly what’s being taught, what’s expected, and how to apply it. Students with high attendance often feel more confident going into exams and assignments.
Attending daily develops and nurtures good study habits and time management skills which you’ll use at university, work, and beyond.
Being in lessons means working with classmates, sharing ideas, and being a part of the class, which makes learning more engaging.
Studies show a very clear link: students with higher attendance achieve better grades. Even small drops in attendance can make a noticeable difference.
Employers and universities value reliability. Good attendance now shows you can commit, meet deadlines, and manage responsibilities well.
