Why is school attendance so important?

Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance. This relationship between attendance and achievement may appear early in a child's school career.

Why is it important to have good attendance in school?

By 6th grade chronic absenteeism is a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school. A student who misses 10 days is 25% less likely to enroll in college. Students who attend school regularly are more likely to graduate and find good jobs.

Why do schools take attendance so seriously?

So, each day absent is a missed opportunity for your child to learn something they will need in order to understand more difficult material later. Students who miss more than 18 days of school are less proficient in reading, writing and math compared to their peers with good attendance.

Why is school attendance important in the UK?

Being in school is important to your child's academic achievement, wellbeing, and wider development. There is evidence to suggest that regular school attendance is a key mechanism to support children and young people's educational, economic and social outcomes.

Is attendance truly important?

By 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores. Missing 10 percent, or about 18 days, of the school year can drastically affect a student's academic success. Students can be chronically absent even if they only miss a day or two every few weeks.

The Importance of School Attendance

What are three reasons attendance is important?

Regular attendance fosters a classroom community between teachers and children. Students who attend school are more likely to succeed academically. Students gain background knowledge from discussions while learning in school. Attending school also provides time for social interactions with peers.

Why attendance is a problem?

Poor attendance can influence whether children read proficiently by the end of third grade or be held back. Read more... By 6th grade, chronic absence becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.

What is considered bad attendance at school UK?

Attendance & Achievement

80-85% At least 5 ½ weeks of learning missed Your child's poor attendance has a significant negative impact on their learning. Below 80% At least 7 ½ weeks of learning missed Your child is missing out on a broad and balanced education. You are at risk or prosecution.

What is the impact of poor school attendance UK?

Being absent from school is thought to be to the detriment of a child's mental health in the long term. By being distanced from their peers, children can develop feelings of social isolation and anxiety.

How many absences are allowed from school UK?

Schools have to regularly inform the Local Authority of any pupils who are regularly absent from school, have irregular attendance, or have missed 10 school days or more without the school's permission. Only exceptional circumstances warrant a leave of absence.

Why do schools care so much about absences?

Every moment in school counts, and days missed add up quickly. For example, a child in Year 10 who is absent for three days over a half term could miss 15 lessons in total. The higher a pupil's attendance, the more they are likely to learn, and the better they are likely to perform in exams and formal assessments.

What is bad attendance?

Below 80%, you should expect a warning. If you miss several days in a row without a reason when you already have low attendance then you should expect the education welfare officer to come over and take you into school.

How does poor attendance affect grades?

Chronic Absenteeism Is Linked to Poor Grades and Dropout

Research shows that chronic absenteeism increases a student's risk of academic failure and is an early predictor of high school dropout.

What are the positive facts about school attendance?

Students who miss fewer days become better readers. Good attendance habits pay off! More school days attended increases a child's academic success, improves their chances to earn a high school diploma and a college degree, so they can earn higher pay in their careers. 80% of success is showing up!

What are the positives of attendance?

Good attendance promotes good outcomes for children. In a small minority of cases, good attendance practice may also lead to the earlier identification of more serious concerns for a child or family and may have a vital part to play in keeping a child or other family members safe from harm.

What is a good quote for attendance?

"Attend today, and achieve tomorrow." 4. "School keeps you safe, it educates you, it prepares you for your future. Don't miss out!"

Why do kids miss school so much?

Social anxiety is one of the biggest reasons kids don't come to school. Academic struggles and being bullied are also common reasons kids avoid school. If kids feel like they're not wanted at school, if they're constantly failing, or if they're fearful of their peers, they may try to get out of going to school.

What happens if your child misses too much school UK?

You could get a fine of up to £2,500, a community order or a jail sentence up to 3 months. The court also gives you a Parenting Order.

Why is missing school bad?

Don't underestimate the harm of these school absences.

Children who are chronically absent in kindergarten and first grade are less likely to read on grade level by the third grade. For older students, being chronically absent is strongly associated with failing at school―even more than low grades or test scores.

Can I call the police if my child refuses to go to school UK?

You should speak to the school who will be able to offer support and assistance. The police do have powers to remove a child of compulsory school age from a public place and take them back to a school or to another place designated by the local authority (unless that child is home educated).

Can attendance make you fail?

Research shows that students who miss a lot of school are more likely to not be able to read on grade level by third grade, and later on are more likely to fail classes and drop out of school.

Is 60 absences bad?

At every school I have ever been to, 60 unexcused absences would result in failing classes (because you can't pass if you aren't allowed to make up the assignments for full credit). And, in the last 10–15 years, if you miss 60 days of school in many places, your parents can be taken to court.

Why are so many kids absent?

Poverty, illness, and a lack of child care and social services remain contributors to poor attendance, and some communities continue to struggle with transportation challenges; the pandemic has brought on a youth mental health crisis that has caused students to miss school; parents have reframed how they think about ...

Who is most likely to miss school?

In a report published in March, the group said that poor students, students of color, and students who do not speak English at home are the most likely to miss a lot of school. Those students are also more likely to lack the ability to make up for the lost time.

Why shouldn t attendance matter?

Students can have extenuating circumstances that prevent them from coming to class. For example, the student may be chronically ill or have a parent with mental health issues. As such, knowledge of the course content is the only factor that should be included in grading.