School attendance has always been a cornerstone of a child’s educational journey, and its importance is being felt more keenly than ever here in the UK, especially with the latest updates to guidance and the law, which took effect from September 2024. As we near the end of the year, it feels like an appropriate time to reflect and consider again, the reasons for these statutory changes. Going to school regularly and being there on time isn’t just about ticking a box; it’s about giving our children the best possible start in life, nurturing their growth, and making sure they all get a fair chance to shine.
One of the biggest reasons why good school attendance is so vital is the way it opens doors to academic success. Time and again, research has shown us that there’s a strong link between how often a child is in school and how well they do. The Department for Education (DfE) reports the strong correlation between attendance and academic outcomes, on a regular basis. For example, in March this year, the DfE published a report, ‘The link between attendance and attainment in an assessment year’*, which indicates that:
- At primary school (Key Stage 2): Children who attend school nearly every day in Year 6 (95-100% attendance) are significantly more likely to reach the expected standard in reading, writing, and numeracy compared to similar pupils who attend 90-95% of the time. Missing just 10 days of Year 6 can reduce the odds of reaching the expected standard by around 25%.
- At secondary school (Key Stage 4): Year 11 pupils with near-perfect attendance are almost twice as likely to achieve grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE, compared to similar pupils attending 90-95% of the time. Missing just 10 extra days in Year 11 can reduce the likelihood of achieving these crucial grades by around 50%.
These findings underscore the tangible impact that consistent attendance has on a child’s educational journey and their future opportunities. To put this into perspective a little, let’s consider an attendance rate of 80%. In most aspects of school and education, a score of 80% is considered pretty high. An exam score of 80% would see a pupil achieving a grade 8 or 9 at GCSE and a grade A or A* at A Level, the top grades, pretty impressive. However, when it comes to attendance, a score of 80% is not so favourable.
An 80% attendance score during a single week of school amounts to 4 days, or missing 1 day in that week. If this pattern continues so that a pupil misses 1 day every week on average, across the academic year she is missing a total of 34 or 35 days. In other words, 7 weeks of education. If that pattern continues further, across multiple years, in the time between starting the school in Year 7, for example, and leaving at the end of her A levels, she will have missed a grand total of 238 days, or 47 weeks, of school. To put it bluntly, she will have been absent from school for nearly an entire calendar year.
To make these figures bleaker still, if we consider that the average school year, at this school for example, is 35 weeks long, in terms of weeks spent in school, an attendance score of 80% means that the individual pupil will have missed out on more than an entire academic year of education across her time in school. Pupils in this scenario must either, spend their days in a constant state of playing catch up and desperately trying to plug the gaps in their knowledge and understanding to be able to keep up with the learning, or risk not understanding later concepts or theories within the curriculum and thus putting themselves at a significant disadvantage in their academic development. Even the most diligent of pupils would struggle to keep up against these challenges.
When children are in school consistently, they’re more likely to really get to grips with new ideas, chip in during classroom discussions, and make the most of what their teachers are offering. They build their knowledge bit by bit, and this helps them avoid those gaps in understanding that can be so hard to fill later on. These gaps can lead to children feeling lost and discouraged, which, sadly, can make attendance even worse. In subjects like Maths and Science, where new knowledge and understanding builds on what came before, missing even a few lessons can leave a child feeling like they’re trying to climb a mountain in a storm.
But it’s not just about grades; school attendance also plays a massive role in a child’s social and emotional development. School is where children learn how to get along with others, make friends, and develop their communication skills. They discover how to work as part of a team, how to sort out disagreements, and how to put themselves in someone else’s shoes. Being there regularly gives them a steady environment to practise these skills. What’s more, schools offer a caring and supportive atmosphere where children can grow in self-confidence and learn to bounce back from challenges. When a child is absent a lot, they can feel left out, which can make it much harder for them to fit in and really flourish.
Additionally, good attendance also teaches children a sense of responsibility and the importance of sticking to commitments. These are vital skills for success in further education, in the world of work, and in their personal lives. Employers really value people who are reliable and punctual, and the habits our children form at school can have a huge influence on how their future unfolds.
Here in the UK, the government is putting a lot of emphasis on school attendance. Recent changes to what schools are expected to do, and the guidance they follow, substantiate the general feelings of concern about the impact of children missing out, particularly after the upheaval of the pandemic. There’s a real drive to step in early and tackle the reasons why a child might be absent, rather than just penalising parents. Schools are working more closely than ever with families to work out what’s causing the problem, whether it’s related to health, special educational needs, or difficulties at home.
Here at the High School, we are incredibly fortunate that our whole school community, including parents, carers, and all our wonderful stakeholders, are so engaged with the school. This means that, generally, attendance is not a widespread issue for us. However, where we do have concerns, please know that we are absolutely committed to working hand-in-hand with families to offer support. We fully recognise that there are a wide range of reasons for school absence, many of which are completely outside the control of the pupil or their parents, and we understand that these situations can be incredibly challenging. Unavoidable absences as a result of sickness or absences for religious observance or significant family occasions, to name just a few examples, are of course justifiable. The issue arises when absences are not simply a one-off or start to form a pattern. Rest assured, we remain dedicated to supporting you through these times to ensure the best possible outcomes for your child are always achieved.
So, to sum it all up, good school attendance is absolutely crucial. It’s the key that unlocks academic achievement, social and emotional growth, and the development of those essential life skills. It’s also worth taking a moment to consider the cumulative impacts of absence. Even seemingly small absences, perhaps just a day here or there, can have a hindering impact on a child’s learning journey. Over time, long-term patterns of absence can become significantly damaging, affecting both academic progress and social development. We are truly grateful to all our families for their continued positive engagement with us, which makes such a difference. The recent changes to UK law and guidance really highlight how seriously the government takes this issue. By making regular and punctual attendance a priority, we can ensure all our children have the chance to reach their full potential and make their own unique contribution to society.