At Fulston, we are clear in our desire to ensure all students have good and sustained attendance. With only 190 school days each year, it is imperative that each day is utilised to its full potential to offer the best possible opportunity for future success. We are committed to working with parents and carers to ensure a high level of school attendance, and as we are sure you will appreciate, where attendance falls below 100%, this impacts a student’s ability to achieve their potential and becomes a cause for concern.  

There is a clear link between good attendance and academic achievement. Government research indicates a significant negative link between overall absence and attainment, with every day missed associated with lower attainment outcomes. Students at Key Stage 4 with no absence were found to be 4.7 times more likely to achieve a level 5 or above than students who missed 15-20% of all sessions. At Fulston, we expect students to strive for 100% attendance.

Attendance: Top Facts and Figures! 

The link between attendance and attainment is clear:

• 36% of persistently absent (PA) children in KS4 got a grade 9 to 4 in their English and Maths GCSEs, compared with 84% of regular attenders. 

And it’s never too late to benefit from good attendance:

• More than half (54%) of pupils who were PA in Year 10 and then rarely absent in Year 11 passed at least 5 GCSEs, compared to 36% of pupils who were persistently absent in both years.

But attendance is important for more than just attainment:

• Regular school attendance can facilitate positive peer relationships, which is a protective factor for mental health and well-being.

*persistently absent is the term used for students whose attendance falls below 90%.