Flintshire’s school attendance rates now among best in Wales

Flintshire County Council’s push for improved school attendance has paid off, with attendance levels now surpassing the Welsh average.

In 2023, the Council’s education department took decisive action to address unauthorised absences in both primary and secondary schools.

Earlier this year, we reported that nearly 100 parents had been fined in Flintshire over their child’s absence from school.

Attendance levels at schools in Flintshire stood at 93.2 per cent for primary schools and 91.6 per cent for secondary schools during the 2019/20 school year.

However, that dropped to 92.1 per cent and 89 per cent respectively in 2022/23. In the same period, unauthorised absence levels rose from 0.85 per cent in primary schools to 0.94 per cent, and from 1.87 per cent in secondary schools to 3.05 per cent.

Where the levels of persistent absenteeism have continued despite support and intervention, parents have received Fixed Penalty Notices or progressed to court action when all other avenues have failed to improve attendance, the Council has said.

The local Magistrates have “reinforced the seriousness of unauthorised absence,” with one family receiving a fine and costs of £2,048 in August 2024.

Flintshire’s school attendance now ranks in the top four nationally, according to a report by the Welsh Government.

The Council’s Education Welfare Service played a key role, targeting resources to support learners and help boost attendance across the county.

Thanks to these efforts, Flintshire’s overall attendance is nearly 1 per cent higher than the national average.

Special attention was given to pupils in Years 6 and 7, particularly those whose attendance had dropped below 90 per cent.

Families were engaged to help improve their children’s school attendance, with additional support offered.

However, for persistent absenteeism, where support did not lead to improvement, the Council enforced stricter measures.

These included issuing Fixed Penalty Notices and, in severe cases, taking parents to court.

Chief Officer for Education, Claire Homard, expressed her satisfaction with the progress:

“It is very pleasing to see that the work we are undertaking as a Council to secure high levels of pupil attendance at school is having a positive impact, and our performance is now one of the best in Wales.”

She added, “Consistent school attendance is vital in ensuring that our learners achieve their potential and have the skills and qualifications to move forward successfully into further and higher education and the world of work.”

“We will continue to take a robust approach where families are not supporting their children’s regular attendance at school.”