Prendergast School

Attendance, Punctuality, Times of School Day and School Meals

Back to Key Information

Attendance and punctuality

  • We expect your child/ward to be in school every day and on time unless:
  • They are too ill to attend
  • They have a medical appointment that can only be made in the school hours
  • Other extreme circumstances where permission has been agreed by the Headteacher

Leave of absence in term time

We do not authorise holidays during term time.  If you require your daughter to be absent from school for exceptional circumstances, you will need to complete an Exceptional Leave of Absence form (click here).  The Headteacher will consider these requests on an individual basis, taking into account the student’s attendance record and the circumstances surrounding the request.

What will we do to monitor attendance and punctuality?

  • We will contact you on the first day of absence by text if you have not previously informed us of the reason why your daughter is absent
  • Send you regular attendance and punctuality statistics 
  • Contact you and arrange a meeting to discuss any concerns we have over attendance and persistent issues with punctuality

Guidance for parents/carers 

  • Please reinforce our expectations regarding full attendance and excellent punctuality with your child/ward
  • Support Prendergast School staff when we take action over punctuality and truancy
  • Let us know of any change in contact details immediately
  • Contact Prendergast School to inform us about any absence, on the morning of the same day
  • Ensure that your child/ward completes any work that has been sent home, and catches up with any work that has been missed

Excellent attendance is important because:

  • We want all students to take advantage of the opportunities provided.  Evidence shows that there is a direct link between poor attendance and under-achievement. Students not in school are more at risk of failing to achieve.  In addition, they run a greater risk of getting involved with crime or becoming victims of crime.
  • The law requires parent/carers to be responsible for ensuring that their children attend school and are on time.

Timings of the School Day

Timings of school day – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday

Tutor Time 8.50am - 9.10am
Warning Pips 9.10am 
Period 1 9.15am - 10.05am
Period 2 10.05am - 10.55am
Rec 10.55am - 11.15am
Warning Pips 11.10am
Period 3 11.15am - 12.05pm
Period 4 12.05pm - 12.55pm
Lunch 12.55pm - 1.45pm
Warning Pips 1.40pm
Period 5 1.45pm - 2.35pm
Period 6 2.35pm - 3.25pm

All students should be in school by 8.45am at the latest. 

Timings of school day –Thursday, No tutor time

Period 1 9.15am - 10.05am
Period 2 10.05am - 10.55am
Rec 10.55am - 11.15am
Warning Pips 11.10am
Period 3 11.15am - 12.05pm
Period 4 12.05pm - 12.55pm
Lunch 12.55pm - 1.45pm
Warning Pips 1.40pm
Period 5 1.45pm - 2.35pm
Period 6 2.35pm - 3.25pm

All students should be in school by 9.10am at the latest on Thursdays. 

Students must ensure that they are punctual to all lessons as poor punctuality to lessons can result in a truancy mark.

School Meals

Our School Meals provider is Olive Dining and we run on a 3-week menu cycle. The cost of a meal deal is £2.58 if students wish to select this option, which includes either a hot meal or a sandwich, a dessert and a bottle of water.  

Please see Olive Dining's Food Allergen Information

At Prendergast School, we operate a cashless system for students to pay for snacks at break-time and School lunch. 

ParentMail

Our cashless catering system is linked to ParentMail, so you can top up your child's lunch account, and also see how they are spending their money at the canteen.

Students who are in receipt of Free School Meals can also log on and check that their child has taken a school lunch, and how they spend any money you credit to their account.

If you have not yet registered with ParentMail, please do! You can use the free App to keep track of all School correspondence and School Reports, as well as pay for things like School Trips and top up cashless catering accounts.

Free School Meals 

Apply online at www.lewisham.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals

There is a lot of information online here, including how you may be able to claim free school meals if you have no recourse to public funds: https://lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/education/student-pupil-support/free-school-meals-and-extra-support-for-your-child

Please see information below for free school meals and School transfers: