Persistent absence – what it means and why it matters

Meet Jack

Jack goes to school 90% of the time. His parents think this is good. But:

• Jack misses half a day of school every week
• Over a year, he misses 4 full weeks of lessons
• Over his school career, he could miss 209 days – more than a full year of school

Even though 90% sounds okay, Jack is spending more time out of school than in it. This is called persistent absence.

What is persistent absence?

A child is classed as a persistent absentee if they attend school 90% or less of the time.

This includes all absences – authorised and unauthorised – and can quickly add up, even if the reasons seem valid at the time.

Why does persistent absence matter?

Missing school regularly can have serious consequences. Research shows:

• pupils who miss 17 days in Year 11 may drop one full GCSE grade
• children who miss school often are less likely to do well academically
• they are more likely to:
• be involved in crime (as a victim or perpetrator)
• struggle financially in adulthood
• experience poor physical and mental health

Even a few days of absence now can affect your child’s future opportunities.

Bradford Council’s vision

We want no child in Bradford to be persistently absent.

We work with schools and families to:

• understand the reasons behind poor attendance
• offer support early
• help children get back into regular routines

What can parents and carers do?

• Be honest: Every parent struggles sometimes. If you’re finding things difficult, ask for help.
• Talk to the school: They’re there to support you and your child.
• Engage with professionals: They want to help, but they can only do that if you meet with them and accept support.

The Attendance Support Team

Bradford Council has a team of 16 Attendance Improvement Officers who work with schools and families to improve attendance.

They:

• meet with schools every term
• review attendance levels
• discuss individual children who are persistently absent
• help schools and families create plans to improve attendance

You can find out who your school’s allocated officer is by contacting tha Attendance Support Team:

📧 [email protected]
📞 01274 435743