Attendance

Research by the Department for Education demonstrates that attendance plays a vital role in a student’s progress. At Bexleyheath Academy individual attendance levels are monitored throughout the academic year, and regularly communicated to students, parents and staff. We provide this information in order to support families to improve attendance rates, and to illustrate how attendance can impact the future of our students.

A significant proportion of our students have an attendance rate of around 90%. Many believe this to be acceptable, but what does it really mean for our students?

What does an attendance rate of 90% look like?

A student with a 90% attendance record is absent from lessons for the equivalent of one half-day every week.

A student with a 90% attendance rate misses the equivalent of four whole weeks of lessons in one school year.

A student with 90% attendance throughout KS3 and KS4 (5 years) misses the equivalent of about one half of a school year.

Attendance and Achievement

Research proves that there is a direct link between a student’s attendance levels and their academic achievement. A study by The Department for Education shows that attendance is likely to affect GCSE outcomes in the following way:

• 78.7% of students who do not miss any weeks of school in Key Stage 4 are likely to achieve 5+ A*-Cs (9-4) including English and Mathematics

• However, the percentage drops to 52% if they miss between 4-5 weeks

• An improvement in attendance by 1%, just two days in an academic year, could result in a 5- 6% improvement in attainment.

Emotional Impact 

If children do not attend school regularly they may:  

• Suffer anxiety upon return to lessons due to missed learning 

• Struggle to keep up with school work

• Affect children’s ability to make and keep friendships; a vital part of growing up.