All schools will be set individual targets for attendance, powered by AI, in a bid to tackle the growing classroom absence crisis.
The move comes after persistent absence figures (those missing 10% or more of classes) soared to 22.3% in 2021/22.
That number has been steadily decreasing since, but the number of pupils missing more than half their classes is still increasing and remains significantly above pre-pandemic levels.
One in three schools is failing to improve attendance, the Department for Education (DfE) said.
But headteacher unions have criticised the new targets, announced by the government, as the “wrong way to go”, and said they will create “another burden” for schools, without actually solving the issue it is supposed to address”.
How will targets be set?
The minimum improvement target a school is given will be based on attendance levels achieved by schools with similar circumstances – including deprivation, location, and needs of pupils.
Schools will receive their targets as soon as possible and will be expected to meet them by the end of the year.
Targets will not be published and watchdog Ofsted will not be able to access them.
But schools will be able to see others with similar circumstances who have successfully improved attendance as part of the AI reports, and will be able to contact them for advice.
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Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said schools are already working to improve attendance and “yet more targets” won’t help.
He instead called for investment in community services providing help for families.
Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, urged the government to “understand the realities in schools rather than issuing yet more diktats dreamt up in Whitehall”.
He added: “Schools already move heaven and earth to ensure that all their pupils attend regularly, but many of the factors that contribute to absence are beyond their direct control.
“Setting them individual targets doesn’t resolve those issues, but it does pile yet more pressure on school leaders and staff who are already under great strain.”
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The DfE has also announced 36 new hubs which will provide other schools with support on attendance and behaviour, and resources to help them keep children engaged when they transition from primary to secondary.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said she wants every school to play its part in getting attendance back to and beyond pre-pandemic levels.
“By working jointly with schools to set individual targets, we’re tackling variation head-on. Our best schools already have a brilliant approach to attendance, and now we’re driving that focus everywhere so that all children are supported to attend school and learn,” she said.
