Secondary school attendance in Wales shows improvement
Secondary school attendance rates have improved in Wales, with overall absence falling from 12.0% to 10.9% in the 2024/25 academic year.
New figures published today also show progress in tackling persistent absence. The proportion of pupils missing more than 10% of sessions has dropped from 37.1% to 33.0% between 2023/24 and 2024/25.
The Welsh Government said raising attendance remains a key commitment. It is working with schools, local authorities and other partners to improve engagement, including through learner focus groups.
Last year additional funding was announced to help support attendance and re-engagement. A further £7 million has now been made available for this financial year, including £2 million for schools to provide learners with enrichment opportunities and £3 million to support Family Engagement Officers (FEOs).
FEOs work directly with schools and families to address barriers to attendance and provide targeted support to identify underlying causes of absence.
Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle, said: “I am grateful to see these positive improvements in school attendance across Wales. These improvements reflect dedicated work by schools, family engagement officers, and families to tackle attendance challenges.
“We are moving in the right direction, but there is still work to be done. We will continue to address the barriers that prevent children from attending school regularly to ensure every child has the best possible chance to succeed.”
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