Why Punctuality Matters

Being on time is an important part of good attendance. Arriving punctually helps students to begin the school day calmly, feel prepared for learning and make the most of every lesson. 

When a student arrives late, even by a few minutes, they can miss important information at the beginning of a lesson, disrupt their own learning and find it more difficult to settle into the school day. 

Regular lateness can quickly add up. For example, being 10 minutes late each day means around 50 minutes of learning is missed every week. 

At Denbigh School, we therefore expect students to be punctual both when arriving at school in the morning and when moving between lessons throughout the day. 

Our approach is not only about responding to lateness. Where punctuality becomes a concern, we want to understand why it is happening, work with the student and their family to address any barriers, and support them in developing positive routines that enable them to arrive on time consistently. 

Where a student has an agreed punctuality concession or adjustment due to their individual circumstances, this will be taken into account when their punctuality is monitored.

Being on Time – What We Expect

At Denbigh School, we expect all students to arrive at school on time and ready to learn, and to maintain good punctuality throughout the school day. 

Morning arrival 
The school gates open at 8:15am and close at 8:28am. Students should arrive with enough time to enter the school site and be ready for the start of the school day. 

Students arriving after 8:28am will be recorded as late to school. 

We encourage students to plan their journey carefully and allow additional time where needed, particularly when travelling by bus or public transport. 

Movement between lessons 
Punctuality is equally important throughout the school day. Students have a five-minute transition period between lessons to move around the school and arrive at their next lesson. 

Students are expected to move promptly and directly to their next lesson. If a student arrives after the five-minute transition period, they will be recorded as late to the lesson and issued a detention. 

Where a student has an agreed punctuality concession or adjustment due to their individual circumstances, this will be taken into account when monitoring their punctuality. 

Registers and Late Arrival 

Registers are taken throughout the school day and provide an important record of both attendance and punctuality. 

Students who arrive after the school gates close at 8:28am will be recorded as late to school. Students should enter school through reception and ensure that they are registered correctly when they arrive. 

It is important that students arriving late sign in, even where a parent or carer has already contacted the school. This ensures that we know the student is safely on site and that our attendance records are accurate. 

Where a student arrives late because of an appointment or another agreed reason, parents and carers should provide the school with the relevant information so that the appropriate attendance code can be recorded. 

Lateness is monitored alongside attendance so that we can identify repeated patterns of late arrival and offer support or take further action where necessary. 

During the school day, teachers also record attendance to lessons. If a student arrives after the five-minute transition time, they will be recorded as late to that lesson. This enables us to monitor punctuality not only at the start of the day, but throughout the student’s timetable. 

Consequences of Lateness

Where a student arrives late to school or to a lesson without an agreed reason or concession, a 30-minute same-day detention will be issued. 

Parents and carers will receive a notification through Attend to make them aware that their child has been recorded as late and that a detention has been set. 

We recognise that there may occasionally be a genuine reason for lateness, and any agreed punctuality concessions or individual circumstances will be taken into account. 

Repeated Lateness and Escalation 

We monitor punctuality across the school week so that repeated lateness can be identified and addressed. 

Where a student receives three or more late marks within one week, a Behaviour Pack will be issued in line with the school’s Behaviour Policy. 

The matter will then be escalated to the Headteacher and Assistant Headteacher, who will determine the appropriate consequence in line with the Behaviour Policy. 

Where punctuality continues to be a concern, we will also work with the student and their family to understand whether there are any barriers contributing to repeated lateness and what support may be needed to help improve punctuality. 

Reasons for Lateness 

We understand that there may be occasions when a student is late for a genuine and unavoidable reason. Where this happens, it is important that the school is made aware of the circumstances so that this can be taken into account. 

Examples may include: 

• An unexpected issue with transport or the journey to school. 

• A medical appointment or other agreed appointment. 

• Significant circumstances at home that have affected the student’s arrival. 

• An agreed punctuality concession or adjustment that has been put in place by the school. 

Parents and carers should contact the school where there is a genuine reason for their child’s lateness, particularly where circumstances are likely to affect punctuality on more than one occasion. 

Having a reason for lateness does not automatically mean that a late mark will be removed, as the register must accurately reflect when a student arrived. However, the circumstances will be considered when deciding whether a consequence or further action is appropriate. 

Where there is an ongoing difficulty affecting a student’s ability to arrive on time, we encourage families to speak to us rather than allowing lateness to become an established pattern. This allows us to understand the circumstances and consider what support or reasonable adjustments may be appropriate. 

How we Support Students and Families

Where punctuality becomes a concern, our aim is not only to respond to lateness but also to understand what may be causing it. 

If a student is regularly arriving late, we may speak with the student and their family to identify any barriers and agree what could help them improve their punctuality. 

Support may include: 

• Helping students develop better morning and organisational routines. 

• Working with families where transport or circumstances at home are affecting punctuality. 

• Pastoral support where anxiety, wellbeing or other difficulties are contributing to lateness. 

• Agreeing an appropriate punctuality concession or adjustment where there is an identified need. 

• Regularly reviewing punctuality to recognise improvement and identify where further support may be needed. 

We encourage parents and carers to contact us as early as possible if there is an ongoing issue affecting their child’s ability to arrive at school on time. Working together early can often prevent occasional lateness from developing into a repeated pattern.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does my child need to arrive at school? 
The school gates open at 8:15am and close at 8:28am. Students arriving after 8:28am will be recorded as late to school. 

What happens if my child is late? 
Students are expected to attend school every day and arrive at their tutorial classroom by 8:25am, ready for the start of the school day at 8:28am. Punctuality to school and to all lessons throughout the day is important.

If a student arrives after 8:28am but before the morning register closes at 9:00am, they will be recorded as late. If a student arrives after the register has closed at 9:00am without an authorised reason, this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence for the morning session.

Students who are late to school or late to lessons without an acceptable reason will be issued with a 30-minute after-school punctuality detention. Parents/carers will be notified of the detention through Attend. If a student fails to attend their punctuality detention, this will be escalated to a Leadership Detention and may result in further sanctions in accordance with the School’s Behaviour Policy.

Like attendance, we monitor punctuality closely and identify students who are repeatedly late to school or lessons. Where persistent lateness becomes a concern, we will communicate this with parents/carers and work with families to understand any barriers affecting punctuality and support improvement.

We ask parents/carers to discuss punctuality concerns with their child and to contact the Attendance Team if there are circumstances affecting their child’s ability to arrive at school on time.

What happens if my child is repeatedly late? 
If a student receives three or more late marks within one week, a Behaviour Pack will be issued in line with the school’s Behaviour Policy. The matter will be escalated to the Headteacher and Assistant Headteacher, who will determine the appropriate consequence. 

What if there is an ongoing reason why my child struggles to arrive on time? 
Please contact the school so that we can understand the circumstances and discuss appropriate support. Where there is an identified need, an agreed punctuality concession or adjustment may be considered.