29/09/2026
📌 Every Day Counts: The Truth About Attendance
As we progress through the school year, we want to take a moment to look at a topic that fundamentally shapes your child’s experience, friendships, and academic success: school attendance.
Sometimes, seeing an attendance figure like 90% looks like a great score! However, when applied to the school calendar, the percentages tell a very different story.
📊 The Attendance "Perception Gap"
Here is what those percentages actually mean over the course of a single school year:
100% Attendance= 0 days missed- Perfect! Your child is fully immersed in their learning and social circles.
95% Attendance= 9 days missed. This is nearly 2 weeks of missed school, and around 50 hours of lost lesson time.
90% Attendance= 19 days missed. This means your child is missing half a day of school every single week. The Department for Education classifies this as Persistent Absence.
85% Attendance= 29 days missed. This equates to nearly 6 weeks of missed school- almost an entire half-term of education lost.
The Big Picture:
If a child maintains a 90% attendance rate from Reception through to Year 11, they will have missed an entire year of school by the time they finish.
📉 The Impact on Grades and Progress
The link between turning up every day and doing well is stark. Department for Education data shows that:
In Primary School: Year 6 pupils with attendance between 95% and 100% are 30% more likely to reach the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths than those sitting between 90% and 95%.
In Secondary School: Year 11 pupils with 95% to 100% attendance are nearly twice as likely to achieve a Grade 5 or above in their English and Maths GCSEs compared to those with 90% to 95% attendance.
🤝 Friendships, Routines, and Wellbeing
Missing school doesn't just impact a child's report card; it impacts their day-to-day happiness. Gaps in attendance can make it harder for children to maintain friendship groups. When a child is away, playground games change, jokes are shared, and routines shift. Coming back after a few days off can often trigger social anxiety.
Being in school ensures your child is building resilience, staying active, and remaining connected to a strong, supportive peer network.
Please speak with us if you need support.
🩺 Quick Reminder: When is "Too Sick" for School?
We know it can be a tough judgement call on rainy mornings, but minor ailments like mild colds, coughs, and tiredness shouldn't keep children at home.
The NHS advises that unless your child has a high temperature, is vomiting, or has a contagious condition, they should be in school. If they feel a little under the weather during the day, let us know and our staff will keep a close eye on them, give them lots of care and call you if needed.
Thank you for your continued partnership in helping your child get the absolute most out of their education!
