Manchester School to Spearhead ‘Attendance Hub’ Initiative in Region

In an effort to address the issue of student absenteeism, Wright Robinson College in Gorton has been designated as an ‘attendance hub,’ one of the 18 such hubs to be established across six regions in the UK, as announced by the government. The North West will also see The Beacon Church of England Primary School in Liverpool serving as another hub.

Supporting Schools with Excellent Attendance

The government plans for these hubs to be operated by schools with a track record of ‘excellent’ attendance. Their primary purpose is to extend assistance to other schools in England seeking to improve their attendance rates. Strategies include implementing ‘direct pupil engagement initiatives,’ such as breakfast clubs and extracurricular activities.

Tailored Support for Absentee Pupils

The attendance hubs will offer one-to-one support for students experiencing frequent absenteeism. Collaborating closely with families, the goal is to understand the reasons behind school avoidance. This proactive approach can lead to additional support measures, intensified efforts by teachers, or facilitating better communication between schools and families.

Expanding Reach and Impact

The government emphasizes that the 18 newly announced attendance hubs will collaborate with the existing 14 to support over 1,000 schools, benefiting more than a million children and young people, encouraging their consistent attendance in education.

Direct Support for Families

Simultaneously, the government is expanding its attendance mentor pilot programme, committing an investment of up to £15 million over three years. This program aims to deliver direct and intensive support to over 10,000 persistently absent students and their families.

A spokesperson stated, “The programme will deploy trained attendance mentors in 10 additional areas from September 2024, including Blackpool and Rochdale. This expansion supplements the existing pilot programme in collaboration with Barnardo’s, already active in Middlesbrough, Doncaster, Knowsley, Salford, and Stoke on Trent.”