Call for action on school attendance

2.17.08pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 29th Jun 2007

The need for action to improve secondary school attendance in the borough was highlighted this week following a Scrutiny Task Group report on the matter.

The Group's findings were discussed at a meeting of the Education and Children's Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee last night (26 June). Improving secondary school attendance is a key priority for the Council and the Task Group made a series of recommendations geared to ensuring improvements. The Task Group concluded: "With the link between attendance and attainment clear, it is crucial that all stakeholders work together to improve attendance, not only to meet Government targets, but also to improve the life chances of the children we educate. We hope that this report will begin a debate about attendance in the borough." In summary, the Task Group found that while there was plenty of good work being done to improve secondary school attendance across the borough, coordination and cooperation were areas that needed strengthening.

The report said: "This was particularly clear in terms of the lack of co-operation with the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, the need for significantly improved cooperation between schools and the need for greater coordination between schools and the Education Welfare Service in terms of a policy for authorising term-time holidays." Chair of the Education and Children's Services O&S Committee, Cllr Suzette Nicholson, said:

"We welcome the Task Group's findings. The review makes a very valuable contribution to the effort to improve secondary school attendance in the borough. The Council and schools clearly work hard to try to ensure good attendance by pupils and the Scrutiny Task Group highlights the key areas where greater focus is needed."