ATTENDANCE
to that is the cost-of-living crisis pushing up the prices of fares and school uniform, adding to the problems faced by families already struggling to make ends meet. For schools and policymakers, it’s a worrying trend. While parents may feel that missing the odd day here or there doesn’t amount to a row of beans, it all adds up. According to figures from the Department for Education, one in five pupils was persistently absent from school in the autumn and spring terms of the last academic year. The law may state that children registered at a school must attend, but attendance at school is about far more than the law. For our education system to work, parents need to believe in its value. Lose that, and the unspoken contract which exists between school and home starts to feel increasingly shaky, as does the ability to enforce the law. So, how do schools win over parents who don’t see missing class as a big deal? There are plenty of sticks available. Local authorities can order mums, dads or carers to attend parenting classes, appoint a supervisor to find ways of getting kids into school, or fine them up to £2,500.
CAMBRIDGE EDUCATION GUIDE 25
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