This in from the council, in their own words. Ed
Latest figures show school pupil absence levels have fallen during the autumn school term when compared to 2012.
Between September and December 2013, attendance levels in primary schools improved by two percentage points when compared to the same period in 2012. This gives a total attendance rate of 96.39 per cent which is above the current national average.
In secondary schools, attendance levels rose by almost three percentage points to 94.2 per cent which is in line with the national average.
Persistent absence rates
There was also good news for persistent absence rates in both the primary and secondary sectors. In primary schools, the number of children persistently absent has more than halved to 3.14 per cent compared to the autumn period in 2012.
In secondary schools, persistent absence rates fell significantly from 11.4 per cent in 2012 to seven percent in 2013 during the same period. This means that 360 more primary pupils and 350 more secondary students are going to school more often when compared to the previous year.
Figures for autumn school term very encouraging
Councillor Richard Priest, the Isle of Wight Council Cabinet member responsible for children’s services said:
“It is no secret the Island has high levels of pupil absence, but these figures for the autumn school term are very encouraging and bode well for the rest of the academic year.
“High levels of absence have a direct link to poor exam performance and we must build on this good news and drive absence figures down even further. I think the figures show that parents and schools are working better together and we need to build on this for the future, and continue to explain to children and young people the importance of going to school. Support is available for families if problems are identified early and shared with schools.
“Schools are to be congratulated for their work in this area and are being supported by measures recently brought in by the council and its strategic partner Hampshire County Council to tackle absences in schools. These include more training of school staff, the setting up of parental meetings when attendance levels drop below a certain level and strengthening the education welfare service.”
Later this year, a nurse will be appointed to work directly with schools and the council’s education welfare service to help families manage absences due to long-term illnesses.
Image: Robert Couse-Baker under CC BY 2.0
