Improving school attendance: your role from the guidance

New non-statutory attendance guidance applies from September 2022. There aren’t any big changes, but get clear on what’s in the guidance and what's expected from you when it comes to improving school attendance. Use our example questions to make sure your leaders are prioritising attendance and that your school or trust is compliant.

Last reviewed on 23 May 2022
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 40974
Contents
  1. 1. Recognise the importance of school attendance and promote it across the school's ethos and policies
  2. 2. Make sure your school leaders fulfil expectations and statutory duties
  3. 3. Regularly review attendance data and help leaders focus improvement efforts on pupils who need it
  4. 4. Make sure school staff receive adequate training on attendance
  5. 5. For MATs and federations: share effective practice across your schools
  6. Download your list of questions to ask

The rest of this article summarises section 3 of this latest attendance guidance. This outlines what's expected of the board of trustees in academies and the governing board of maintained schools when it comes to improving attendance.

If you’re on a local governing body (LGB), check your scheme of delegation to see what specific responsibilities you have around attendance. 

This means you should: Set high expectations for all leaders, staff, pupils and parents Make sure school leaders prioritise attendance as part of wider strategies - e.g. raising attainment, behaviour, special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), wellbeing and safeguarding You might have an attendance link governor to focus on this Make sure your school has effective attendance management processes, and that they provide consistent support for the pupils that need it by prioritising staff and resources. This includes making sure your school

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