Attendance

The latest news and professional advice on school attendance, including analysis of attendance data and shared practice on tackling pupil absence and internal truancy

Thursday

5th Sep 2024

Most schools worried about internal truancy
Analysis shows rise in suspensions and exclusions compared with the same time in the previous year
child peeping out from behind chair

Friday

30th Aug 2024

Pupil absence: new regulations on fines
A lawyer explains the updated government regulations relating to unauthorised pupil absences
Parking fine

Wednesday

28th Aug 2024

Attainment and school attendance down for looked-after children
Rate of exclusions among looked-after pupils has also increased for the first time in 12 years, and is almost six times the overall rate
Lone pupil in playground

Friday

23rd Aug 2024

GCSEs 2024: Teachers’ efforts hindered by anxiety and absence
Schools continue to face long-lasting impacts of the pandemic, including worsening mental health and high absence, leaders warn
Bike in mud

Tuesday

20th Aug 2024

EPI: Schools need guidance for pupils with multiple suspensions
Impact of suspensions called into question as students removed from the classroom are more than twice as likely to fail to achieve a level 3 qualification, research finds
Outside headmaster's office

Thursday

15th Aug 2024

New Scottish behaviour plan advises ‘high warmth and high standards’
‘Culture shift’ in behaviour management has made teachers feel ‘disempowered’, says plan, which backs ‘relationships-based approaches’ and barely mentions exclusions
Comforting little girl pupil

Wednesday

14th Aug 2024

How to deal with internal truancy
Internal truancy – students skipping lessons but remaining on school grounds – is an increasing problem in some schools. So what can be done about it? Behaviour lead Amy Forrester offers her advice
Skip classes

Friday

9th Aug 2024

Unauthorised absence rising but attendance has improved
Unauthorised absence has risen by 80 per cent in secondary schools since the pandemic, new EPI analysis shows
Unauthorised absence rising but attendance has improved

Tuesday

30th Jul 2024

How do you solve a problem like school attendance?
In this edition of our Big Debate webinar, three school leaders discuss growing concerns about attendance and how teachers can address issues such as ‘internal truancy’
Child hiding in cupboard

Thursday

25th Jul 2024

Absence still high despite drive to boost attendance
Pupil absence has remained stubbornly high this year in spite of the previous government’s efforts to bring attendance back to pre-pandemic levels
Pupil fading away

Wednesday

17th Jul 2024

AP facing staff funding cliff edge, Phillipson warned
Alternative provision leaders call for more funding and action on unregulated provision in open letter to education secretary
phillipson
Exclusive

Friday

12th Jul 2024

Governors’ financial fears at record high
Six in 10 governors and trustees say that balancing their school budget is now their biggest challenge
Majority of governors fear financial sustainability