At St. Mary's Secondary School, we believe that every school day counts. Regular attendance is one of the most important factors in a student's academic achievement, wellbeing and personal development. Students who attend school consistently are more likely to succeed academically, build confidence, develop positive friendships and enjoy all aspects of school life.
Our aim is to ensure that every student has the best possible opportunity to achieve her full potential by attending school regularly, arriving on time and engaging fully in learning.
The poster above highlights just how quickly missed school days accumulate. While attendance of 90% may appear good, it actually means missing 17 school days and approximately 153 classes during the school year. At 80% attendance, a student will miss 33 school days—almost seven weeks of learning. Even persistent lateness can have a significant impact, with just 10 minutes late each day resulting in the equivalent of four school days of learning lost over the course of the year.
Our Commitment
St. Mary's Secondary School is proud to participate in Phase 2 of Anseo, the national attendance pilot led by the Department of Education and TUSLA Education Support Service.
The Anseo programme supports schools to:
- promote a positive culture of attendance;
- identify attendance concerns at an early stage;
- provide timely supports for students and families;
- work collaboratively with parents and guardians; and
- improve attendance outcomes for every student.
Our Attendance Team monitors attendance throughout the school year and works closely with students, parents and outside agencies where appropriate to support positive attendance habits.
Why Attendance Matters
Research consistently shows that regular school attendance leads to:
- Higher academic achievement.
- Better examination outcomes.
- Stronger friendships and school connectedness.
- Improved confidence, resilience and wellbeing.
- Greater opportunities in further and higher education.
Recent research by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) found that students who miss 20 or more school days each year can achieve, on average, over 80 fewer CAO points than students with strong attendance. Persistent absence is also associated with lower progression to higher education and poorer wellbeing in early adulthood.
Attendance Categories
Under TUSLA guidance:
- 95–100% – Very Good Attendance
- 90–95% – Attendance of Concern
- Below 90% – Chronic Absenteeism
Our goal is to support every student in achieving attendance of 95% or above, giving her the greatest opportunity to succeed.
Supporting Good Attendance
Parents and guardians can help by:
- encouraging attendance every school day where possible;
- establishing consistent bedtime and morning routines;
- ensuring students arrive before 9.00 a.m.;
- arranging appointments outside school hours whenever possible; and
- contacting the school early if attendance difficulties arise.
If a student is genuinely unwell, she should remain at home. However, avoiding unnecessary absences helps ensure that valuable learning opportunities are not missed.
Recording Absences on Compass
Parents and guardians are reminded that:
- all absences should be explained through the Compass Parent Portal;
- recording the reason for an absence is a requirement under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000; and
- outstanding absences should be completed as soon as possible.
Punctuality Matters
Good attendance also means arriving on time.
Students should:
- arrive before 9.00 a.m.;
- attend every class; and
- remain in school for the full school day unless authorised to leave.
Parents receive notifications regarding late arrivals through Compass. In accordance with the school's Code of Behaviour, repeated unexplained late arrivals may result in appropriate sanctions.
Supporting Your Child's Attendance
Below you will find our Supporting Your Child's School Attendance guide for parents and guardians. It contains practical advice on establishing positive routines, recognising early signs of attendance difficulties, and the supports available within St. Mary's Secondary School.
Together, by working in partnership, we can ensure that every school day counts and that every student has the opportunity to achieve her full potential.