From September 1, all schools in England will be set individual attendance targets as part of a tougher government approach to tackle declining attendance levels. Schools that fail to meet their targets may be contacted by the Department for Education (DfE) to discuss the reasons.
The move, announced by ministers including Andy Burnham, comes as official data shows absence rates remain above pre-pandemic levels. Headteachers will be required to demonstrate they are taking attendance seriously when the new school year begins.
Individual targets based on local challenges
Targets will differ for each school, reflecting local challenges that may affect attendance. The DfE will initially contact schools that miss their targets to discuss why they have fallen short.
Education minister Paul Waugh said local challenges would be considered, but added that "every school has a role to play to improve attendance". The government hopes the official targets will focus the minds of headteachers even further.
Parents face financial penalties
Parents already face financial penalties for unauthorised absences. The new targets are intended to reinforce the message that regular school attendance is essential.
There have been growing concerns that school attendance rates have never fully recovered since the pandemic. The government is taking action to address this, with the new targets being a key part of that effort.
Uniform costs to be reduced
Other changes from September will aim to make buying school uniforms more affordable for parents. Schools must not force parents to buy more than three items of branded school uniform. However, secondary and middle schools may ask for four items if a tie is one of them.
These measures are part of a wider government drive to improve school attendance and reduce the financial burden on families. The DfE will monitor compliance and contact schools that fail to meet their attendance targets.
