Government will use AI to set minimum attendance targets for schools to meet this year in the latest bid to crackdown on absence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The targets will not be published, nor shared with Ofsted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But schools that fail to meet the new attendance expectations will be referred for support through regional improvement for standards and excellence<\/a> (RISE) teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Department for Education (DfE) has announced today schools will be set the \u2018attendance baseline improvement expectations\u2019 from this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The target will be set through an AI-generated report considering things like location, pupil needs and deprivation levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It comes as the DfE has revealed the next batch of its behaviour and attendance hubs (see full list below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n But general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders Pepe Di\u2019lasio urged the government \u201cto understand the realities in schools rather than issuing yet more diktats dreamt up in Whitehall\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said many factors are contributing to absence are beyond school control, adding: \u201cSetting them individual targets doesn\u2019t resolve those issues, but it does pile yet more pressure on school leaders and staff who are already under great strain”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each school will be given \u201cminimum attendance expectations\u201d for 2024-25 \u201cfrom this month\u201d. This year\u2019s targets will be on a \u201ctest and learn basis\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Government said \u201cprogress will be interpreted thoughtfully given attendance levels can sometimes be hit by local \u2018shocks\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each school will get an \u201cattendance baseline improvement expectation\u201d report, which will be based on schools\u2019 circumstances \u2013 including location, pupil needs and deprivation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This will be \u201cAI powered\u201d, and \u201caim to help lift the floor on school performance, as part of a ladder of progress helping schools and wider services back to Pre-Covid levels of attendance \u2013without capping ambition\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leaders will also be given examples in their report of similar schools in the region with better attendance \u201coffering further insight to drive improvement\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Schools Week has asked the DfE whether top schools will be informed about being named in struggling school\u2019s reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Government said the targets will not be published externally or made available to Ofsted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, targets will be used to provide support through RISE behaviour and attendance hubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The government plans to open a total of 90 hubs, reaching 5,000 schools and giving targeted support to 500 settings. The scheme is spearheaded by ambassadors Tom Bennett and Jayne Lowe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are already 21 hubs operating since September, with 36 more open from today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, schools will also be given \u2018best practice toolkits\u2019 targeting transitional moments between primary and secondary school, and Year 7 and 8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n King\u2019s Leadership Academy Warrington, is one of the best practice examples in the new toolkit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A government press release added the school \u201ccreates an environment where all children can belong and thrive with weekly enrichment sessions where pupils choose activities including crochet, gardening and sign language\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another best practice school, CHS South in Manchester, \u201cencourages strong starts to secondary school by creating a sense of community with parents and pupils\u201d with family cooking classes in the summer before year 7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The target strategy is part of the government\u2019s drive to get attendance levels back to pre-pandemic levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While overall and persistent absence rates have fallen in the past year, severe absence levels have risen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders union NAHT, said: \u201cThe reality is that schools are already working tirelessly to improve attendance, with many going way above and beyond what should be expected of schools every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe government issuing them with yet more targets will not help them with that work and is the wrong way to go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both leadership unions have called for better resources to be made for schools to understand the barriers to attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is also just the latest expectation placed on schools. That includes new expectations for behaviour <\/a>and parental engagement<\/a> in the upcoming schools white paper, as well as post-16 study<\/a> and new careers education<\/a> targets. Last week it also said schools would be judged on enrichment benchmarks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: \u201cWe can only deliver opportunity for children in our country if they\u2019re in school, achieving and thriving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s why I want every school to play its part in getting attendance back to \u2013 and beyond \u2013 pre-pandemic levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBy working jointly with schools to set individual targets, we\u2019re tackling variation head-on. Our best schools already have a brilliant approach to attendance, and now we\u2019re driving that focus everywhere so that all children are supported to attend school and learn.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The DfE has published the names of the next behaviour and attendance hubs it has opened today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are:<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow will targets work?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
RISE support \u2013 no Ofsted involvement<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Crochet and cooking classes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2018The wrong way to go\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
More behaviour and attendance hubs announced<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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