Every Day Counts: Why Attendance is a Leadership Priority

Author: Melissa Warwick – Operations Manager, A Star Attendance Solutions

School attendance isn’t just a pastoral concern; it’s an economic, academic, and social equity issue. As school leaders, we are uniquely placed to influence change.

Recent DfE research has underscored what many of us already knew anecdotally: pupils with higher attendance are more likely to achieve strong GCSEs and those outcomes directly affect their lifetime earnings. In fact, the report suggests that students who are persistently absent (missing 10% or more of school) face significant disadvantages in both education and future employment. The data is stark: better attendance today means better life chances tomorrow.

But behind the numbers are real young people.

Take Josh, a Year 10 student from a Midlands secondary. His attendance fell to 85% post-pandemic. He disengaged from learning, especially in his core subjects and began missing more days. With coordinated support from his form tutor and attendance officer, Josh turned things around. He’s now back above 95%, feeling more confident and catching up academically.

These stories aren’t rare. They’re happening in all of our schools. And they highlight the critical role leadership plays in setting the tone, systems and culture around attendance.

As leaders, we must:

• Champion consistent attendance in all communications with student, families, staff, governors and local partners.
• Invest in early intervention, identifying patterns before they become entrenched.
• Support staff to address and overcome the barriers that keep students at home.

• Celebrate success stories – small wins that show improvement is possible.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t just about meeting targets or Ofsted criteria. It’s about equipping the next generation with the tools to thrive socially, emotionally, and economically.

Attendance is everyone’s business, but it starts with leadership. Every day really does count!