“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle
We know that regular attendance makes a real difference to a student’s experience of school. When students attend well, they are more settled, more confident in their learning, and more connected to their peers and teachers. They are better able to keep up with their work, participate fully, and experience a sense of progress and achievement.
Attendance is also closely linked to wellbeing. Being present each day supports friendships, routine, and a sense of belonging, all of which are essential for young people as they grow and develop. Over time, good attendance builds strong habits that support students not only in school, but in their future pathways.
Working in partnership with parents
Good attendance is built through strong routines at home, with school and home working together. Simple steps can make a big difference:
- ensuring your child gets enough rest on school nights
- preparing school bags and lunches each evening for the next day
- supporting punctual arrival each morning
We understand that, at times, attendance can become a challenge. If this happens, we encourage you to contact us early so that we can work together to support your child.
Our approach
In St Michael’s, attendance is supported in a caring, structured, and proactive way.
- We promote positive routines and a strong sense of belonging
- We monitor attendance carefully and communicate with parents where concerns arise
- We provide support through Year Heads and our student support team
- We put individual supports in place where needed
We know that when a student avoids school, there is always a reason. Our role is to understand that reason and support them to return.
Attendance and our responsibilities
As a school, we are obliged to monitor and report on attendance in line with national guidelines. This includes notifying Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, where a student reaches a certain level of absence. Our focus, however, is always on early support and working with families to address any difficulties before this point.
Our aim
Our aim is not simply good attendance figures, but ensuring that every student feels comfortable, confident, and able to attend school regularly — and knows that they matter here. For full details, please see our Attendance Strategy below.