Who makes the decision about payment? The Head of Sixth Form (as s/he has the day-to-day knowledge of students and of their attendance and reasons for absence). Students should now be aware that attendance at lessons is no longer the sole criteria on which the EMA is awarded. From September, 2008, the following criteria will also determine whether the EMA is awarded:
Behaviour
Effort
Attitude
These criteria apply to work in and out of lessons, plus any other school related activity. These requirements have been applied by the EMA and apply to all institutions; not just Wrenn School.
Who presses the button to transfer information from Wrenn to EMA/Darlington? The EMA Administration Coordinator, having checked with the Head of Sixth Form.
Who pays out the weekly and bonus awards? The EMA direct to students bank accounts.
What is meant by attendance? Lesson by lesson attendance is defined as all registrations and timetabled lessons. This is confirmed by a teacher’s signature for each lesson in the booklet provided. If the teacher is absent students are required to go to the school office during that lesson time to get a signature which confirms their attendance at that time.
The booklet with a complete set of signatures needs to be handed in to the Student Services Office at the end of the school week: If the student is unable to hand in their book because of a genuine reason s/he is required to hand in additional evidence within two weeks; a decision to backdate can only be made during this period. If an attendance pattern cannot be proved within this time frame then a ‘No’ decision will be made. Students need to write in their subjects and free periods once they have got their full timetable for each week. If the student is on a school trip they must ask the teacher in charge to sign their EMA book for the amount of time they are away.
Loss of the booklet/ deface of booklet will incur a cost of £2.00 to ensure that administration coasts are kept to a minimum and that we can provide a full and accurate record of attendances to EMA auditors.
What counts as an ‘authorised’ and ‘unauthorised’ absence? We follow county guidelines that where possible authorised absences must be agreed between the student and school in advance and evidence provided by the student.
Acceptable absences, therefore, will be:
Medical appointment (evidence will be an appointment card or student takes attendance card to be stamped at the surgery).
Caring for someone else (only in emergency situations).
Religious holidays/festivals (no more than one day per festival – NCC will issue a list of dates of all religious festivals).
University visit (schools are advised to stipulate a maximum number of visits allowed during school time).
Career related interview.
Work experience (only if related to learning programme) – employer to sign attendance card.
Significant extra curricular activity (at the discretion of the school).
Probation meeting.
Funeral (parents; grandparents; siblings; close friend only).
Driving test.
Representing the school/college.
The following reasons for absence are not acceptable (even if known in advance):
Holidays.
Full or part time work.
Leisure activities.
Birthdays or other celebrations.
Babysitting other siblings (except in emergency).
Driving lessons.
When authorising absences, we will consider the following factors:
How reasonable the case is
The number of absences taken by any one individual
Exclusion from a particular class, period or day
Repetitions of the same excuse
Whether the excuse is backed up with evidence
In the case of illness, parents/guardians must write in the back of the EMA book. Illness up to 5 days needs to be covered by a parental note on return to school and completion of a self-certification card by the student. These need to be given in to the Form Tutor. Illness beyond 5 days will need to be covered by a doctors’ note. Repeated short illnesses, even though covered by a parental note, may be deemed by the school to be ‘unauthorised’.
What happens if the school believes the signatures to be fraudulent? If students act in a fraudulent manner by making up signatures (or in any other fashion) they will be withdrawn from EMA immediately. EMA will be informed and it is likely that the student will be prosecuted and any money repaid.
What counts as targets for the bonus payments? The January and July bonuses will be dependent on the student successfully meeting the following targets:
Gaining effort grades 1 or 2 (only) in all subjects, with all teachers, in all formal Effort Grade Reports up to that point.
The student attends the Parent Day interview (with or without parent).
Signatures from all teaching staff to indicate that all major pieces of work have been of sufficient quality and completed to deadline. It will be the students’ responsibility to find staff members and to collect these signatures on the formally prepared card.
Any changes of academic programme by the student have been made by following the schools’ formally laid down procedures (involving subject teachers, tutors, Head of Sixth and parents).
The student has successfully followed a Community Leadership programme and achieved effort grades 1 or 2 (only).
“Bonus payments within EMA are reviewed annually to evaluate their impact on take up and learner progression and are not guaranteed”. (EMA)
The July bonus will also require the student to return their completed EMA book (so that we have it ready for EMA auditors), successfully complete their academic programme and sit all relevant examinations.
The September bonus in Year 13 no longer exists.
In order to get any bonuses, students must have completed, and returned to the Student Office, the Contract Part 2. These are given out in the introductory meeting at the beginning of the autumn term.
Who deals with disputes over non-payment? The official ruling is that the adjudicator must not be a line-manager or line-managed by the Head of Sixth Form (who will have decided on non-payment). i.e. the adjudicator should be as impartial as possible. We believe the adjudicator should be a link Sixth Form Governor. This will involve him/her more directly in the life of the Sixth Form, whilst maintaining impartiality (however, it could be a Deputy Head).
Students who feel that they have been unfairly treated can appeal by writing to Mr Frazer who will discuss reasons with the EMA Administration Coordinator. This must be done within two weeks of non-payment. Students will be notified of the decision by Mr Frazer after the non-payment procedure has been followed. The adjudicator’s decision is final.
How will students know about their rights and responsibilities? All students successfully registered for EMA will be required to attend a meeting within the first two weeks of term where they will be informed about the above issues. The meeting will be led by the Head of Sixth Form and the EMA Administration Coordinator. Students will also receive copies of the relevant booklets and statements.
How will parents know about their son or daughter’s rights and responsibilities, as well as the support that will be needed directly from them? All parents of Year 12 students at Wrenn are invited to attend a Briefing Evening in the first half-term. Our requirements about EMA will be outlined and all relevant parents will be urged to apply.
How will staff know about their responsibilities and involvement in providing evidence for payments? On a September Training Day a short period of time will be set-aside to brief staff about their responsibility to provide accurate attendance records and signatures to prevent non-payment of the EMA to deserving students.
Mr Frazer Head of Sixth Form
E-mail:
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