Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

School Attendance

Monday 28 November 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Attendance in state-funded schools was 93.6% from September to October 2022
  • Primary, secondary, and special schools had 94.9%, 92.2%, and 88.1% attendance respectively
  • 5 billion committed on catch-up programmes and tutoring for pupils affected by the pandemic

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mark Pawsey Con
Education
Context

The MP is concerned about the impact of the pandemic on school attendance.

Question

What assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of school attendance. Attendance issues are a concern following the pandemic, and there are specific challenges for pupils with special educational needs.

Answer from Nick Gibb

Attendance in all state-funded schools was 93.6% from September to October. Primary, secondary, and special schools had 94.9%, 92.2%, and 88.1% attendance respectively. The focus is on supporting pupils facing barriers due to the pandemic.

Answered
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Q2 Mark Pawsey Con
Education Mental Health
Context

There has been an increase in persistently absent pupils and home-educated children, often due to a breakdown between parents and schools or issues with special educational needs.

Question

What steps is the Department taking to encourage that group of pupils back into the classroom?

Answer from Nick Gibb

Working with headteachers, teachers, and children's social care to help overcome barriers for pupils, including mental health issues and falling behind in studies. £5 billion committed on catch-up programmes and one-to-one tutoring focused on the most affected children.

Answered
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Q3 Chris Bryant Lab Rhondda and Ogmore
NHS Education
Context

The MP highlights the challenges for children with acquired brain injuries in school attendance, executive function development, and potential criminal justice involvement.

Question

Will the Secretary of State make sure that her Department plays as strong a part as she previously did in making sure that we have a national strategy on acquired brain injury?

Answer from Nick Gibb

Every child, including those with injuries or cognitive issues, will be supported to thrive in schools. The suggestion of having a strong role in a national strategy is acknowledged.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to a national strategy was not explicitly confirmed.

How: The Suggestion Of Having A Strong Role In A National Strategy Is Acknowledged

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