21/06/2026
Did you know? Nearly 1 in 5 secondary pupils is persistently absent - and absence often rises at the transition from Year 6 to Year 7
The stats are striking. Government data shows secondary school absence sits at over 8% compared to just over 5% in primary. And that gap gets wider in the first year of secondary school.
Behind that data are children who are struggling to feel settled, safe and ready to show up.
Here's the good news: primary schools can do a lot to prepare children for that transition - and one of the most powerful tools isn't an extra literacy session.
It's PE.
High-quality Physical Education builds:
✅ Social confidence - children learn to connect with new people
✅ Resilience - they practise managing setbacks and trying again
✅ Routine - they get used to adapting, following instructions and managing themselves
✅ Physical confidence - they move into new environments feeling capable and included
If you'd like to understand how your school's PESSPA provision is supporting your pupils - including how it prepares them for the move to secondary school - our free PESSPA Benchmark gives you a clear picture in under 10 minutes.
🔗 https://theprimarypebenchmark.scoreapp.com/
