Wiltshire school data shows 17% of pupils 'persistently absent'

University courses Education & Childhood Studies
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  • Wiltshire school data indicates 17% of pupils are persistently absent, missing over 10% of school sessions.
  • This accounts for 7,910 pupils out of 46,595 in the county, according to data from the Department for Education’s Wonde platform.
  • The platform collects daily attendance figures from cooperating schools since 2022, aiming to identify trends and provide support for struggling pupils.
  • At a recent council meeting, it was revealed that Wiltshire’s persistent absence rate was 17%, slightly lower than the national rate of 20.6%.
  • Additionally, 1.8% of Wiltshire pupils were severely absent, missing over 50% of school sessions.
  • Overall attendance in Wiltshire schools stands at 93.4%, slightly above the national average of 93% but lower than pre-pandemic levels of 95.28%.
  • Illness remains the primary reason for absences, both nationally and in Wiltshire, with SEND pupils showing an overall attendance rate of 86.9%.
  • While Wiltshire’s attendance rates are comparatively strong, officials remain concerned about the lingering effects of the pandemic on attendance figures.
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very concerning to see the impact the pandemic has had on attendance rates. Ddo you think implementing the DfE’s new platform will significantly improve attendance and support for pupils who need it?

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These statistics paint a concerning picture of attendance in Wiltshire schools, reflecting broader trends seen across the nation. It’s encouraging to hear that overall attendance is slightly above the national average, but the challenges posed by persistent absence and the impact of the pandemic are clear. What steps do you think could be taken to address these issues and support students in maintaining consistent attendance?

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I am quite hopeful the platform will bring positive change. As by having a clearer understanding of which students are regularly absent, strategies to reduce this can be quite targeted to those groups’ needs.

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There are so many variations of strategies that could be taken but a combination of these could be effective:

  1. Implement early intervention systems and tailored support for students facing attendance challenges.
  2. Foster strong school-family-community partnerships to reinforce attendance importance.
  3. Offer flexible learning options to accommodate diverse student needs and circumstances.
  4. Identify and address underlying barriers like health or socio-economic issues impacting attendance.
  5. Implement trauma-informed practices to support students who have experienced adversity.
  6. Develop targeted strategies to address attendance challenges exacerbated by the pandemic.
  7. Continuously monitor attendance data and adjust interventions based on evolving needs.