Attend, achieve, succeed – Newport students encouraged to attend school and be the best they can be
Posted on Tuesday 14th March 2017
Attend, achieve, succeed – that’s the key message of a new attendance drive for Newport schools.
A ‘School Attendance Matters’ campaign from Newport City Council aims to increase the awareness of students, parents and carers of just how important school attendance is.
What can seem like only a few days off here and there can have a surprising impact on a young person’s achievements over the course of their school years.
Although attendance rates for Newport at both primary and secondary level have increased over the past few years, there is still room for improvement.
Research shows that there is a clear link between poor attendance and educational attainment, and that ongoing periods of low attendance directly affect the performance of both individual pupils and a school as a whole.
Newport’s attendance strategy and action plan draws on national recommendations by Estyn to promote high levels of attendance and focuses both on information and support for students and parents, plus guidance and protocols for teachers and governors.
Eye-catching banners can be now be seen on the gates of Newport schools highlighting what levels of attendance mean, posters are being displayed in schools and bus interior adverts are also serving to raise awareness.
A recently approved protocol will also set challenging and appropriate targets for schools; improve how attendance is recorded and monitored, allowing for a faster response to any potential issues; and will encourage closer working between schools in a cluster group.
It will also support training for schools so they can develop improved attendance strategies specific to the needs of that school, and will encourage teachers and governors to increase their awareness of national priorities and initiatives.
Councillor Gail Giles, Newport City Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Young People, said: “Newport is seeing improvements in its exam results at both GCSE and A-level, but we need to focus on elements, such as attendance, that impact on a young person’s education and their subsequent success.
“It is well documented that achievement is clearly linked to attendance, and as an authority we are committed to supporting our schools in this area.”