Education – Attendance does matter

The government has established a target for 70 per cent of students to maintain an attendance rate of at least 90 per cent. This initiative is part of a comprehensive attendance action plan supported by substantial funding. Key components of the plan include mandatory reporting and the implementation of a new attendance response framework known as STAR.

Regular school attendance is defined as a student being present 90 per cent of the time. Historical data indicated that, even in 2015, the average attendance was around 70 per cent, raising significant concerns. This trend has continued to decline, and the impact of covid further exacerbated the situation. During the pandemic, we were all encouraged to stay home if we exhibited any symptoms of illness, leading to the assumption that even minor symptoms, such as a slight sniffle, warranted missing school. This mindset resulted in attendance rates plummeting to a low of 39.9 per cent by mid-2022.

Schools are actively being encouraged to enhance their use of STAR, report attendance data in ERO reviews, engage in mandatory reporting and systematically track interventions through their management systems. Schools are also focusing on promoting attendance through newsletters and other communication efforts, placing increased pressure on educators to improve attendance rates.

This challenge is not new, but it now includes the additional responsibility of reshaping public perceptions in the post-pandemic environment. It is crucial to convey that a minor cough or sniffle should not prevent a child from attending school. However, illnesses are not the sole factors causing absences. Family activities, parents’ medical appointments, and celebrations can also lead to students being out of school, hindering their ability to succeed academically.

It is essential to recognise that even small reductions in regular attendance can have significant implications for a child’s education. For example, missing one day every two weeks results in four weeks of missed instruction annually. Missing two days each week equates to 16 weeks of learning lost each year, culminating in nearly five years of education forfeited by the time they leave school.

Increased pressure on parents has led to many school-aged children stating an absence is ‘medical’ rather than being honest with their schools and themselves about the need to attend. It is crucial to support families in getting their children to school every day.

Unfortunately, socio-economic policies and a lack of support in our communities mean that many families are struggling to meet the needs of their students.

At my school, like many others, we do everything we can to ensure our students attend. We provide breakfasts, morning snacks and school-cooked lunches, so students know that coming to school means they will be fed. We are fortunate to have a school counsellor who supports the emotional wellbeing of our students. As a KidsCan school, we can also provide shoes and coats.

I encourage all parents to discuss with their leadership teams any issues they face in ensuring their children attend school every day. They will find a way to help.