Schools are to be assigned personalized minimum attendance goals as part of a strategy to make up for lost educational time during the pandemic. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is set to reveal a plan for each school to enhance efforts in assisting students in returning to classes.
Approximately one-third of schools are still struggling to enhance their attendance rates. Starting this month, every school will receive AI-powered targets to boost minimum attendance levels, ensuring that students are present and prepared for academic success.
The Attendance Baseline Improvement Expectation (ABIE) will be tailored to each school’s specific circumstances, considering factors such as location, student needs, and deprivation levels. Schools will be benchmarked against others with similar demographics, with progress evaluations not being used for official accountability purposes.
The set targets will guide support initiatives, including the launch of 36 Attendance and Behavior Hubs offering personalized assistance to students. While some teaching unions have expressed reservations about the additional pressure on schools, the government aims to collaborate with schools to achieve and surpass attendance levels seen before the pandemic.
Before the pandemic, the overall absence rate stood at 4.7%, rising to 7.6% in the 2021/22 academic year. The number of persistently absent students, missing more than 10% of school days, almost doubled post-pandemic. The Labour party has overseen improvements, with millions more school days attended and a reduction in persistently absent pupils, aiming to return to pre-pandemic attendance levels.
School leaders’ unions have cautioned against imposing more targets on schools, emphasizing the need for practical resources and support. They advocate for tailored solutions to address attendance issues, such as dedicated school attendance officers to work with families and alleviate barriers to school attendance.
The focus remains on supporting schools in tackling attendance challenges effectively, ensuring that all children have the opportunity to attend school regularly and thrive academically.
