Using the My Child at School parent portal (MCAS)

If you are having problems with using MCAS the following guides may prove to be useful.

Requesting authorisation for holiday or other activity in term time

If you wish to get authorisation to take your child out of school for a holiday or other activity please read the Attendance policy and complete a leave or approved activity request form.

Leave or approved activity form

If your child is unwell and cannot attend school

Parents should inform Oathall by leaving a message on the school’s absence line 01444 414001 (before 8.45 a.m.) on the morning of the first day of absence and every subsequent day of absence. Parents can also email [email protected] – please state your child’s year group in the subject header. The nature of the illness should be indicated.

Unauthorised Absence

If your child is absent from school without authorisation you may be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice by West Sussex County Council.

Free school meals

If you think that your child qualifies for free school meals please read the information here.

Online payments for trips, resources & school meals

Oathall is a cashless school. We use ParentPay for making online payments. If you do not have access to the internet for payment we can provide PayPoint vouchers for any services. Please contact Karen Crockford if you require a ParentPay account or PayPoint vouchers.

Travel to school

We encourage all students to either walk, cycle or take public transport to school. We have bicycle racks available inside the school.

Our school drive is unsuitable for vehicles arriving to drop off or pick up students. Please do not drive up or park on the school drive unless your child is too unwell to walk to a more suitable location. The roads near the Washington Road footpath entrance are wider and more suitable for dropping off or collecting students than the Appledore Garden entrance.

School Buses

Normally, it is the responsibility of parents to get their children to and from school or college. Assistance with transport will be available from West Sussex County Council if a child:

  • is statutory school age;
  • attends the catchment or nearest appropriate school to their home; and
  • lives beyond statutory walking distance from the school – for pupils over the age of 8 this is 3 miles. The route is measured by the shortest available walking route.

WSCC operates school bus services from Horsted Keynes & its surrounding rural areas.

For more information, please visit www.westsussex.gov.uk and refer to the school transport pages.