Pupils who missed the second, third and fourth day of a new term are likely to have a significantly higher overall absence rate than their peers, according to new analysis from the children’s commissioner.
And pupils with an unauthorised absence on any day in the first week of term had an overall unauthorised absence rate of 25 per cent.
This was compared to an overall unauthorised absence rate of 2 per cent for pupils who didn’t miss any sessions in the first week.
Dame Rachel de Souza has produced a new report highlighting the importance of the return to school as “critical” for “getting pupils into school and settled into the school routine”.
In the report, Back into school: New insights into school absence, an analysis of around 32,000 pupils suggested that children who are absent for the second, third and fourth day of a new term are predicted an overall absence of around 43 per cent (or 30 days) across the term.
And, while the study found that Fridays were the most common day for pupils to miss school, the analysis revealed that those that miss school mid-week are more likely to be “habitually absent”.
The data was taken from three multi-academy trusts (MATs) from across the country and with primary, secondary and all-through schools.
The study also found that pupils with an education, health and care plan (EHCP) and those with pupil premium were more likely to have a higher level of absence overall than their peers.
Dame Rachel suggested that schools should use the last few weeks of term to ensure pupils “feel ready for the new school year”, as well as supporting pupils over the summer break in order to encourage attendance at the beginning of September.
She also said that schools could also consider making Fridays “more appealing” by hosting clubs or extra-curricular activities at lunch or after school.
In the report, Dame Rachel said that she has made attendance “an absolute priority”.
She acknowledged that the reasons for absence were “complex” and said it was “a system issue, as well as an individual one”.
“While parents are responsible for ensuring their child goes to school every day, and is ready to learn, we need a system that supports that for every child.”
Last month, Dame Rachel said that schools should “create a culture” that “obsesses” over attendance and recommended that Ofsted should make it a “top priority” in its inspection framework.
