By Michael Gooch, Forum Strategy Associate and Attendance Specialist
In their research ‘Listening to and Learning from Parents in the Attendance Crisis’ Dr. Sally Burtonshaw & Ed Dorrell (September 2023) consider the crisis in school attendance, highlighting its profound implications for the education system and society at large. They argue that historically, daily school attendance was a cornerstone of the social contract between schools and families. However, this dynamic has shifted following the Covid-19 pandemic, escalating mental health issues among youth, the cost-of-living crisis, and industrial actions. These factors have, the report suggests, created a gap in expectations between families and the state.
As we know, poor attendance is also often linked to lower academic achievement, with data showing a clear correlation between attendance rates and attainment at Key Stages 2 and 4. The impact is more pronounced for economically disadvantaged pupils. On the opposite side, regular attendance is also associated with broader social, health, and civic benefits. The report underscores the increasing media and political focus on the attendance crisis, backed by extensive quantitative data. The research aims to understand parents’ perspectives and experiences, using qualitative methods to gather insights from a diverse range of parents. It also includes input from practitioners and pupil focus groups.
The findings reveal a broken social contract between schools and parents, with many parents feeling frustrated and unsupported. The report emphasises that addressing the attendance crisis requires a comprehensive, multi-agency effort. The research covers various interconnected issues such as teacher retention, healthcare provision, mental health, and poverty. As the cost-of-living crisis deepens, leading to increased poverty, housing instability, and poor health, there are concerns that school attendance may continue to decline, with serious implications for young people and their families. The report seeks to understand why attendance is in crisis by listening to families, parents, and carers, who are crucial in determining the future of school attendance.
