Move to support rather than punish absent pupils

Pupils and families will be supported instead of punished for repeated school absences, a council has said.

Gloucestershire County Council has launched a new school attendance strategy to coincide with the start of a new school year, aiming to give families practical help to keep children in class.

One in ten secondary pupils and one in 20 primary pupils were repeatedly absent from school in Gloucestershire in 2024, in line with national rates.

Kathleen McGillycuddy, principial of Tewkesbury Academy, said that while "sanctions, fines and punishment" had a place in dealing with absence, "building strong relationships with our families and offering support" could mean better outcomes.

McGillycuddy, who already oversees a dedicated attendance team, said there were many complex reasons why a pupil might repeatedly miss school.

These, she said, could range from not feeling a "sense of belonging" to physical and mental health issues, problems at home, anxiety and special educational needs not being met.

Repeated absence rates in Gloucestershire peaked during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021 and while attendance is improving, it is yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.

The new policy aims to help families create morning routines, offer young people additional emotional support, work with parents to identify underlying absence issues and connect families with wider health agencies, social services and community groups.

Each school in the county has also been asked to identify a named attendance champion.

GCC is not providing any extra money to develop the strategy, instead encouraging schools and external agencies to work together more effectively.

Councillor Linda Cohen, who oversees education and skills for the local authority, said consistent school attendance was important to both children's social development and academic results.

"It's very hard [for parents] to come forward because you probably feel like you're being judged, you might feel like you've failed or you haven't done what's expected of you as a parent," she said.

"But you have to accept that sometimes you need help with it and then you can solve that problem, so it's about support first – please come and ask for it."

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