How to: Address Students with Low Attendance

Being frequently absent from class can impact a student’s grades 90% of young people with attendance rates below 85%fail to achieve five or more good grades at GCSE. Many teachers are concerned with how to keep students frequently attending their classes.

The Importance of Student Attendance

Regular attendance ensures that students keep pace with the class and enables students to keep up to date with your lesson plans. In contrast, missing school can lead to gaps in understanding and lower academic performance. Teachers understand that a student's presence in class is directly linked to their engagement and success.

Attendance also plays a vital role in personal development. Schools provide more than just education; they offer social interactions, extracurricular activities, and holding responsibilities.

Acceptable Absences

Not all absences are cause for concern. Acceptable absences might include reasons like illness, family emergencies, or religious observances. It's important to communicate with parents and guardians about the need for absences to be legitimate. The Department for Education (DfE)elaborates on acceptable absences.

It's worth noting that pupils who have missed more than 10% of school sessions are considered persistently absent, while students who miss over 50% are referred to as severely absent.

In the UK the average school attendance is usually above 90% which is an acceptable rate, though it’s generally suggested that a student’s absence rate should not rise above 5%. You can view your school’s attendance rate via the DfE’s attendance tracker.

Communicating with Frequently Absent Students and Their Families

Identifying patterns of non-attendance can help teachers address underlying issues. Regular communication with parents and understanding the circumstances behind absences is key.

The DfE’s toolkit recommends a compassionate yet firm approach when engaging with students and their families. 

Regularly sharing attendance reports with parents and guardians ensures awareness of a student’s behaviour.

Incorporate attendance discussions into parent-teacher meetings addressing concerns directly, schools can foster a collaborative approach to improving attendance.

Using the student’s name and specific data rather than generalising can make messages more impactful. Parents are more likely to take action when they see the information is directly applicable to their child.

Positive and future-focused messaging resonates well with parents. Highlighting the benefits of attendance, such as social interactions and well-being, encourages parents.

Email is convenient for delivering less urgent messages, while letters are better suited for more serious information. Text messages can provide timely updates and reminders, keeping parents informed and engaged. Face-to-face meetings may be needed for more nuanced discussions.

Similarly, regular check-ins with students who are frequently absent can help to build positive relationships, open discussions and an understanding of their challenges, increasing the opportunity to resolve any issues and attendance.

Through tailored communication and showing the importance of attendance, many absentee students can be turned around. By prioritising attendance and addressing absenteeism, teachers empower students to reach their full potential and prepare them for a successful future whilst ensuring your lesson plans have the impact they deserve.