Headteacher's Letter 01.10.2025

Dear families,

I hope this letter finds you well.

I am writing to share some important findings from our own school’s data, to remind everyone how crucial regular attendance is — and to reinforce why, as a school, we do not permit extended leave for holidays during term time.

What our data shows

In one year group, 26 students have had extended leave. When we look at their progress compared with their peers, the differences are striking:

• In English Language, 58% of those students were below expected progress, compared to 37% across the year group.
• In Mathematics, 27% of those students were significantly below target.
• In History, the impact is even more severe — 88% of extended-leave students are below target.

These are real figures from Stepney All Saints School, not general national averages, and they make the message clear: students who miss school for extended holiday leave perform significantly worse than their classmates who attend consistently. Of course for a student completing their GCSE this would have an impact on their outcomes.

On the other hand, we also see the benefits of strong attendance. The majority of students who keep their attendance above 98% are on track or exceeding expectations across their subjects. 

Why attendance makes such a difference

• Learning builds cumulatively - every lesson connects to the next, and missing them creates gaps that are hard to fill.
• Routine and momentum - students who attend daily keep up with the pace of learning, while absence breaks their flow.
• Confidence and engagement - being present helps students feel part of the class, boosting confidence and motivation.
• Research confirms this - Department for Education analysis shows that pupils with attendance above 95% are much more likely to achieve age-related expectations than those with lower attendance (DfE, 2025).

School policy on extended leave

For these reasons, we cannot authorise extended leave during term time. Missing even short periods has lasting negative effects that cannot easily be undone.

What you can do to help

• Plan family holidays during school breaks, not during school terms.
  • If illness or exceptional circumstances arise, let us know as soon as possible; we are always ready to help in genuine emergencies.
  • Encourage your child to attend every day, on time. Late arrival to school also means that essential learning time is lost.
  • Following any essential absence, talk with your child about what they missed, and work with us — teachers are glad to help with catch-up where needed.

In conclusion

Our school’s data makes the situation very clear: extended leave leads to weaker performance across subjects. But equally, it shows that students with strong attendance thrive and make excellent progress. As headteacher, it is my responsibility to ensure that all students have the best chance to succeed — and high attendance is essential.

Thank you for your support in keeping your child’s attendance as high as possible. Together, we can help every student reach their full potential.

Warm regards,

Benjamin Siaw

Headteacher