Flintshire Council launches new ‘We Want You Back’ campaign to drive up school attendance

As the start of the new school year approaches, Flintshire Council has launched a campaign to drive up pupil attendance rates in the county. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The council has said it “wants to welcome everyone back” and parents have been urged to make their child’s attendance at school “a priority.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The local authority said that with 175 non-school days a year, there is ample opportunity to “spend time together and go on holiday.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Additionally, it has stated that it is against the law for children of compulsory school age to skip school without good reason. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Attendance across secondary schools in the county has dipped to below the Welsh average since 2016. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In late 2019, education watchdog Estyn highlighted the need to improve attendance and reduce levels of exclusion in the area. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Flintshire Council has since been working to address the issues, although the Covid-19 pandemic has made measuring and comparing data more difficult. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The local authority has said that children who have very good attendance“ are more likely to gain 5 or more A*- C GCSEs or equivalent qualifications.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Any absence can have a detrimental effect on academic achievement which can lead to less life choices and opportunities.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The council said, “it adds up quickly,  91.1% attendance may sound OK, but it actually means missing 17 days of school in one year – which, on average, means dropping 1 GCSE grade.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In total there are 175 non-school days a year, “this gives families plenty of time to spend time together and go on holiday.” The council said. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It is also against the law for children of compulsory school age to be absent from school without good reason.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Attendance should be a priority and we want children in Flintshire to have the best opportunities that are available – we are here to help!” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

• Parents with concerns about their child’s attendance should contact school or your school’s Education Welfare Officer or call the Welfare Service: 01352 704155 or educationwelfareservice@flintshire.gov.uk.

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