Attendance and Punctuality

Full attendance and punctuality enable students to take advantage of the educational opportunities on offer at BSK. Poor attendance and/or lateness are significant factors in most cases of academic underperformance.

BSK promotes a healthy lifestyle: good hygiene standards, a balanced diet, a sensible sleep pattern and sufficient exercise. By living healthily, students can reduce the chance of becoming ill and missing school.

Punctuality

Students should not arrive to school before 07.00. The Outer Courtyard is supervised from 07.00 and provides water, shelter and toilet facilities. Students must not enter the school buildings (except, if required, the Clinic) before morning line-up.

Students should arrive in school by 07.30 daily, in time for the 07.32 bell, except during the Holy Month of Ramadan when a revised timetable applies. Parents are asked to ensure that students arrive to school in time. All lateness is recorded. Tutors follow up with students and parents so that any problems may be resolved.

The gate to the Outer Courtyard is closed at 07.50. Any students arriving after that time must enter the campus via the security office at the rear Gate G. The security guard will record code 'G' lateness and the time of entry on the school attendance database.

Absence notes

Class Tutors record all absence as either unauthorised or authorised. Unauthorised absence is unacceptable.

Absence for medical reasons, unavoidable travel, religious festivals or other special occasions will be authorised. Any other reasons, or unexplained absence, will not be authorised.

If a student has been absent from school, they must bring an explanatory note – either a signed parental letter or a doctor’s or dentist’s note – to show to their Class Tutor during morning registration on their first day back to school. Absence notes must mention the date(s) of absence and the reason for the absence.

Arranging and presenting an absence note is the student’s responsibility. Failure to provide an absence note at the earliest opportunity is a disciplinary offence.

End of day

At 14.25, all Secondary students attend afternoon registration. Students who travel by school bus should leave afternoon registration at 14.30 and go directly to their buses, which begin leaving the school at 14.35. All other students should leave afternoon registration at 14.35.

Non-bus MD and UD students are accompanied by their Class Tutors to the Outer Courtyard. Sixth Form students may leave themselves. Those students not attending afterschool activities are required to leave the school premises by 14.45.

Leaving school early

The school places great emphasis on classes keeping pace with schemes of work. The attendance of students at lessons is very important. Withdrawal of students from timetabled classes will disrupt the curriculum. If parents wish to withdraw their children from their classes they should follow the procedure outlined below:

• Inform the relevant Department Coordinator (DC) or Assistant Department Coordinator (ADC), giving at least one day's notice.
• The parent should write in their child's planner the reason for absence in brief, the exact time of departure from the school and, where applicable, the expected return time.
• The DC or ADC will either grant permission in writing in the planner or contact the parent. If approved the DC or ADC will sign the student's planner.
• The student should go to the back gate at the exact time that is mentioned in the planner.
• Parents should not come to reception during the day and expect to withdraw their children without prior notice.
• Students should always be collected from back gate G, which is located at the rear of the ‘Park Lane’ area between the main building and the White House complex. Parents should not come to the front reception to collect their children.

In accordance with Ministry of Education guidelines, we would advise parents strongly that except in the case of an emergency or unavoidable medical appointment, students should not be withdrawn from their classes.