Pupil absences

1
Pupil absences

• RIG 13 October 2004

2
Consultation

• Letter of 12 August 2004 to LEAs about possible
  changes to the ways in which data on pupil
  attendance and absence is gathered/collected,
  rather than notice of a firm intention to change
• Invited LEAs to discuss at this meeting (and to
  submit comments in advance)
• 18 LEAs commented so far
• Comments will form basis of discussion in
  breakout session

3
New Termly Absence Survey

• Letter from David Milliband and Ivan Lewis to
  CEOs on 25 August
• To introduce termly collections of absence data
  from all schools, starting with a collection in
  January 2005, covering the 2004 autumn term
• Not require schools to distinguish between
  authorised and unauthorised absence for these
  additional collections
• New collections are statutory on all schools

4
New Termly Absence Survey

• Termly collection and monitoring of data is the
  minimum
• Expect LEAs to establish systems for more
  frequent - at least half termly - data sharing
  with those schools with absence rates of 20 or
  more above the median for their free school meal
  band
• DfES will be monitoring closely those authorities
  (up to 20) with a large number of such schools
  i.e. LEAs will need to share half termly data
  with DfES

5
New Termly Absence Survey

• The collection will be a web collection like
  the current annual absence return
• Schools will need to generate details of possible
  attendances and actual absences for entry into
  the web collection screen
• Letters are being sent to all schools to advise
  them of the requirements
• Software suppliers (of attendance systems) are
  being advised

6
Questions and discussion

• Come to the breakout group
• Attendees will include
• Terry Keane (NRWS Data Sub Programme/IMS)
• Linda Rundle (School Attendance Team Consultant)
• Saleem Quazi (School Attendance Team)