Admissions and Attendance Committee 

I have recently taken over from Jan Rogers as Chair of The Admissions and Attendance Committee.  This committee is formed of a small group of Governors who meet twice a term to discuss the policies associated with admission to the school and attendance there.  They also work to ensure that the policies are implemented fairly.  While I have served as a committee member for a number of years I am not sure I realised previously the additional aspects required as Chair.

As a very popular school we are always oversubscribed and run waiting lists for all years.  Because of appeals, most years are in fact over number.  One of the areas of which I have become more aware in the last year is that whereby the Local Authority, via a committee, places pupils who have been excluded from other schools in Portsmouth.  Springfield, like all Portsmouth schools, has to take a number of these pupils and works hard to ensure that, before they arrive, the Authority has done all that is possible to support them.  Once these pupils have arrived at school the staff are, in the main, very successful in helping them to develop and achieve their potential.

As you can see, places at Springfield are much sought after, so I find it very strange that so many parents wish to take their children out of school during term time.  Permission to be officially away from school, outside the terms of the Attendance Policy, will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.  ‘Exceptional’ really means this.  Permission will not be granted for any absence that, with a bit of thought and planning, could be arranged during the school holidays.  So please make sure that not only you but also your friends and family are aware of the policy so that surprise holidays are not booked at inappropriate times.

 Chris Batstone - Chair of the Admissions and Attendance Committee