Pupils: Attendance

(asked on 27th January 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment his Department made of the effect of recording vulnerable children under a separate attendance code where they have opted for remote learning on their (a) attendance record and (b) college applications.


Answered by
Nick Gibb Portrait
Nick Gibb
This question was answered on 1st February 2021

Attendance at school is a protective factor and is beneficial for children’s education, welfare, and long-term development, which is why vulnerable children are strongly encouraged to attend so that they can receive support during this period.

If parents of vulnerable children do not want their child to attend school, we have made clear that schools should grant a leave of absence given the exceptional circumstances, so no pupil is unfairly penalised for their absence. Moreover, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has issued a temporary disapplication notice to suspend the offences related to absence from school so parents cannot be sanctioned for their child’s absence at this time.

Additionally, last year, the Department amended regulations to remove the requirement on schools to report on pupils’ attendance for academic year 2019/20 in pupils’ reports and advised schools to take a proportionate approach in deciding what information to include. Where a pupil is no longer of compulsory school age, and is leaving school, headteachers must provide a school leaver’s report containing brief particulars of the pupil’s progress and achievements in subjects and activities forming part of the school curriculum.

In light of the disruption to school attendance again this year, we will review and provide further advice to schools about what should be included in pupils’ attendance records in end of year and school leavers' reports to ensure no pupil is unfairly penalised for their attendance during the current restrictions.

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