STORY
The Department for Education has warned that avoidable absences, including so-called “birthday bunk-offs”, are contributing to persistent attendance problems in schools. The Government said it wanted to help schools and families reduce unnecessary absence while making school a place children want to attend.
Ministers said practical attendance tools would sit alongside broader education reforms, including expanded access to music, sport and the arts, improved teaching and a more stretching curriculum. The Department said the Attendance and Behaviour Hubs programme was helping schools share proven approaches to improving attendance.
The announcement comes as school attendance remains a politically sensitive issue following the disruption of recent years. The Government is seeking to frame attendance not only as a matter of enforcement, but as part of a wider effort to improve school culture, expectations and pupil experience.