Attendance

Regular school attendance is essential if you want your son/daughter to fulfil their potential. You should understand that every school day counts; when a pupil is absent from school, they miss out.

New attendance guidance in 2020/21

Absence note 

If a pupil is absent a parent/carer is now required to inform us by email. Telephone calls to inform us of absence are encouraged but a signed emailed note will also be required. An absence note pro forma may be found using the following link [http://www.colerainegrammar.com/Uploaded%20Documents/Absence%20Note%20pro%20forma%202020.pdf] alternatively pro forma notes are in the pupil planner.

Directions on submitting electronic absence notes

1.Parent/carer to write the absence note using the pro forma.

2.Parent/carer signs the note (NO electronic signatures will be accepted).

3.Parent/carer scans or takes a picture of the note.

4.Parent/carer attaches the scanned note/picture to an email.

5.Parent/carer sends the email message to the appropriate campus – LODGE ROAD cgsabsencelr252@c2kni.net or CASTLEROCK ROAD cgsabsencecr171@c2kni.net

Please follow these guidelines:

No electronic signatures will be accepted

ONLY emails with a signed absence note will be accepted.

Emailed notes must be sent to the appropriate campus account (please do not send directly to school staff members)

If an absence note with signature and reason is not provided for a pupil’s absence 5 school days after the pupils return to school, then a ‘D’ code (No reason provided for absence) will be recorded in SIMS. Code ‘D’ is an Unauthorised absence.

Appointments during the school day 

Parents/carers are asked, whenever possible, to make appointments outside school hours. If an appointment has to be made during school hours’ parents/carers are required to inform us via email (with an attached written or photographed signed note) by 2pm the previous day. A telephone call stating the reason, date and time is helpful but a signed emailed note will also be required.

Directions on submitting electronic appointment notes

1.Parent/carer to write the appointment note.

2.Parent/carer signs the note (NO electronic signatures will be accepted).

3.Parent/carer scans or takes a picture of the note.

4.Parent/carer attaches the scanned note/picture to an email.

5.Parent/carer sends the email message to the appropriate campus - LODGE ROAD cgsabsencelr252@c2kni.net or CASTLEROCK ROAD cgsabsencecr171@c2kni.net

Pupils are expected to return to school following their appointment whenever possible. 

If a pupil has a medical condition that may affect attendance and punctuality, parents/carers are asked to contact the school to discuss possible arrangements with their child’s Pastoral Leader.

Signing in and out during the school day 

When a pupil needs to leave school they must report to either the CL/LR reception, the secretary will sign them out. All pupils in Years 8 – 12 must be collected by a parent/carer. 

All pupils returning to school during the day must report to reception where the secretary will sign them in, they then make their way to class.

Driving Lessons

Pupils will not be permitted to leave during the school day, driving lessons to be scheduled outside school hours.

Family holidays during term time

CGS strongly discourages holidays during term time due to the impact that they have on a pupil’s learning. Parents/carers must contact the school prior to booking any holiday to explain the need to remove a pupil from school during term time. This contact should be in the form of a letter addressed to the Headmaster.

Download the Department of Education:  Parents Guide to School Absence

View the Education Authority's leaflets on Attendance:

Miss School = Miss Out Leaflet.pdf

Miss-School-Miss-Out-Ask-for-help- (Post Primary)_0.pdf

Download our CGS absence note pro forma: Absence Note pro forma 2020.pdf