Agenda Item: 9

Wolverhampton City Council

Committee/Panel CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE SCRUTINY PANEL Date: 20 AUGUST 2009

Originating Service Group(s) CHRISTINE MILLS (CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE) GILLIAN FELLOWS (SCHOOLS) Contact Officer(s) JOHN WELSBY Telephone Number(s) 551449

Title REDUCING ABSENCE IN WOLVERHAMPTON SCHOOLS

1. Recommendation

1.1 That Scrutiny Panel notes the contents of the attached report “Reducing Absence in Wolverhampton Schools”.

1 2.0 Background

2.1 In July 2008 the Children & Young People’s Scrutiny Panel received a report on absence from Wolverhampton schools. The attached report (Appendix 1) presents the current picture including provisional data for the first two terms of the last academic year 2008/09 that has recently been released by the DCSF. Full year figures to the end of May (the end of the DCSF accounting period) will be published in the autumn.

2.2 The report shows that overall attendance has continued at a high level though the overall result for 2008/09 seems likely to be a little poorer than the previous year. Analysis suggests that children in Wolverhampton were particularly hard hit by illness in the periods before and after Christmas 2008 and that snow in the early part of 2009 were the two main factors contributing to the slightly poorer overall result.

2.3 Whilst the provisional overall level of absence has increased slightly because of these factors the report also shows the progress made by the 10 schools identified by the DCSF in 2007/08 as having high levels of Persistent Absence. All but one of the schools made significant improvements and two, Smestow and Parkfield made dramatic improvements.

2.4 The report has attached two DCSF graphs showing that Wolverhampton’s progress during 2008/09 in relation to those schools that fall within a category of concern, has been better than progress in many other authorities. Wolverhampton remains on course to reach the Government’s 2011 target of no more than 5% Persistent Absence from secondary schools.

2.5 The report also describes a number of activities at school and local authority level that contribute to improving attendance.

2 Appendix 1 ABSENCE FROM WOLVERHAMPTON SCHOOLS 2008-09

1.0 Absence 2006-2009

1.1 Absence from school in Wolverhampton fell significantly in 2007-08, continuing an improving trend in recent years.

2006-7

Overall Authorised Unauthorised Total Absence Attendance Primary 6.03 5.41 0.62 93.97 Secondary 7.99 6.66 1.33 92.01 Combined 93.09 Primary & Secondary

2007-8

Overall Authorised Unauthorised Total absence Attendance Primary 5.76 5.2 0.56 94.24 Secondary 7.64 6.39 1.26 92.36 Combined 93.4 Primary & Secondary

However, in 2008/09 there was small increase in overall absence from secondary schools and a somewhat larger increase from primary schools. This appears to be a reflection of national trends due to increased levels of winter illness and generally significantly lower attendance levels than usual during February 2009 when schools stayed open wherever possible during the snow. In local authorities where schools closed more readily these sessions can be discounted from the published figures but Wolverhampton Headteachers have generally taken the view, consistent with advice from the DCSF, that closures should only be used in extreme circumstances.

2008-9 (provisional)

Overall Authorised Unauthorised Total absence Attendance Primary 6.36 N/A N/A 93.64 Secondary 7.76 N/A N/A 92.24 Combined 93.02 Primary & Secondary

2.0 Persistent Absence

2.1 For several years the Government has encouraged schools and Local Authorities to focus particular attention on improving the attendance of pupils who are persistently absent. The criterion for this is pupils with attendance below 80% over a period of a half 3 term. All of these pupils are identified by schools and the Education Welfare Service and have individual improvement plans. The attendance of many pupils improves sufficiently so their overall attendance for the year is above 80%. This targeted approach has resulted in a steady year on year reduction in the overall numbers of Persistent Absentees (PA).

2.2 In 2007/8 the provisional figure at the end of the Spring Term, for those pupils with under 80% attendance in secondary schools was 7.4%. For the same period in 2008/9 the provisional result was 6.6%. This represents a significant reduction from 1006 pupils to 871 pupils no longer meeting the threshold of more than 54 sessions of absence over the first 2 terms. The target for all LAs for the whole academic year (counted by the DCSF to the end of May, National Indicator 87) is to reach no more than 5% of secondary pupils by 2010-11, so we are on course to meet this requirement in 2 years time. Wolverhampton’s target for the end of May 2009-10 is 5.5%; we expect this years result to be around 6.3% for the period to 30 May. This is a challenging target but there are promising improvements in reducing persistent absenteeism.

2.3 10 secondary schools were identified by the DCSF as priority PA schools in 2008-9 as their percentage of pupils under 80% attendance was greater than 7% of those on roll in Years 7-11:

Pendeford BEC 14.3% Moreton Community 12.9% Aldersley 11.4% Deansfield 11.4% OLSC 10.9% Parkfield 10.7% Moseley Park 9.1% Heath Park 8.6% Smestow 8.1% Colton Hills 7.5%

Of these, all but one, Deansfield, has shown a reduction in their PA percentage during 2008-9. Two schools in particular made significant reductions: Parkfield from 10.7% to 5.0% and Smestow from 8.1% to 3.8%. With support from the National Strategies Regional Advisor (Behaviour and Attendance), the local authority’s Education Welfare Service has focused on working closely with the priority schools to bring about these reductions. Deansfield’s result is disappointing but covers a period of considerable change within the school. Summer term data indicates a significant improvement.

2.4 The Government has progressively revised the threshold for identifying schools with high levels of PA. For 2009/10 the DCSF recently announced that the threshold from 7% in 2008/09 would be changed to 6% in 2009/10. On the basis of the Autumn and Spring Term attendance data the DCSF have identified 9 priority secondary schools for the next academic year.

Highfields 6.3% Heath Park 6.4% Moseley Park 7.2% The Northicote 7.9% OLSC 10.1% Moreton 11.5% Aldersley 12.1% Pendeford 13.7% Deansfield 14.3% 4

2.5 Persistent Absence from Primary schools is significantly lower than from secondary schools for 2008/09. The Government has analysed primary data to identify priority schools. The criteria are schools with PA above the national average of 2.5% (12 schools) and those above the LA average (3.4%) and having at least 10 pupils meeting the threshold (11 schools)

Bushbury Hill Primary 8.1% Wilkinson Primary 6.5% Fallings Park Primary 7.6% Goldthorn Park Primary 9.2% Graiseley Primary 7.1% Perry Hall Primary 7.1% Rakegate Primary 7.9% Elston Hall Primary 6.5% East Park Junior 7.3% Woden Primary 6.6% Field View Primary 10.1% Bantock Primary 6.7% Villiers Primary 5.9% St Andrew’s 8.7% Stowheath Junior 7.5% St Jude’s 6.7% Trinity 5.8% St Luke’s 7.6% Holy Rosary 9.00% St Anthony’s 6.3% St Mary’s 6.3% Northwood Park 6.7% Edward the Elder 6.7%

All of these schools will receive additional support during 2009/10.

3.0 Action to improve attendance at school level

3.1 A variety of activity at school level contributes to improvements in attendance. Key actions that have been shown to be successful are as follows:

• An Attendance Plan, drawn up with each school in partnership with the Education Welfare Service, identifying priorities for reducing persistent absence and outlining the services to be provided;

• Weekly monitoring by schools and EWOs of overall rates of those at risk of having under 80% attendance and the development of individual plans to support pupils and parents in making improvements

• Half-termly monitoring of progress through the PNIFTED reviews (Pupils Not in Full Time Education)

• All priority schools were visited by the National Strategies Regional Advisor (Behaviour and Attendance) and the LAs Team Leader (Attendance and Child Welfare) to review progress, including an audit tool as part of the school’s process of self-review;

• Robust action by school staff to challenge reasons given for absence and to make it clear to parents that absences will not be authorised unless they are unavoidable

• Changes to school policy to reduce the level of leave granted for family holidays, no longer make use of study leave or to ensure that all pupils have access to a full-time programme if alternative provision is required

• Early intervention and referral to specialist agencies where complex family problems were required

• Targeted use of Penalty Notices 5

3.2 The use of statutory powers

The Local Authority makes robust use of its statutory powers to enforce attendance where parents are failing in their legal duty. This includes the serving of Penalty Notices (fines) and prosecution in the Magistrates Court. 87 cases have been successfully taken in 2008/09. This led to sustained improvement in over 50% of cases. Work continues with families where improvement is not acceptable and this can include a return to court.

3.3 Action to improve attendance at the LA level

Through the Education Welfare Service, the local authority also uses a variety of initiatives, in partnership with schools and other agencies such as the Police, to promote attendance. These have included

• The Mayor’s awards for perfect attendance over 5 or 7 years • Parenting Contracts for Attendance • Intensive Support Days in individual schools when every child late or absent on that day is followed up • Campaigns with Beacon Radio jointly with other Black Country local authorities • Rewards and incentives for attendance in individual schools • The development of MASTS to improve coordination and support for families with a range of difficulties contributing to poor attendance. • Through grant funding the establishment of Parent Support Advisers in each MAST to improve the early intervention with those families who present the sorts of concerns that might lead to a referral to Social Care Services. • Regular visits to all schools by Education Welfare Officers to identify children whose attendance is causing concern.

3.4 As required by the DCSF, all schools have already identified their absence targets for 2009-10. Revised Guidance has been placed on ‘Engage’ and the 6 expected priority PA secondary schools have already attended a briefing session to assist them in preparing their Plans for next year. Discussion with the additional schools will take place early in September. There are also a number of approaches to managing absence, the transfer of pupils during the school year and the timing of off registrations, that the Education Welfare Service will be discussing with schools in order to reduce the number of pupils reading the threshold of 54 absences by Easter and 64 by the end of May. These issues will be considered with schools at The Social Inclusion Partnership Strategy & Coordination (SIPSAC) group in September. We are confident that the underlying trend in improving attendance will be maintained during 2009/10 and our National Strategies adviser has indicated satisfaction with the activities that have led to improvements in attendance in the last few years. However she also acknowledges the effects of bad weather and illness and of course the effects of a possible epidemic of swine flu, that make predictions for 2009-10 rather tentative at this time.

6 HT4 OTPAs (54 sessions)

Baseline HT4 % of Wolverhampton End HT4 school status PA (end 2008/09 baseline HT4 OTPA (54 2007/08) sessions) Deansfield High School 75 86 115 More on target PA's than baseline Our Lady and St Chad Catholic Sports College 78 65 83 Fewer on target PA's than baseline Moreton Community School 73 62 85 Fewer on target PA's than baseline Pendeford Business and Enterprise College 64 52 81 Fewer on target PA's than baseline Aldersley High School 78 71 91 Fewer on target PA's than baseline Smestow School 66 30 45 Fewer on target PA's than baseline Colton Hills Community School 55 36 65 Fewer on target PA's than baseline Moseley Park School 95 53 56 Fewer on target PA's than baseline Heath Park Business and Enterprise College 88 53 60 Fewer on target PA's than baseline Parkfield High School 90 37 41 Fewer on target PA's than baseline

LA total 762 545 72%

LA average 76 55 72%

360 priority schools average 104 76 74%

7 HT4 OTPAs in priority Persistent Absence schools as a proportion of baseline OTPAs

Baseline 100 HT4 2007-08 level 90

80 Priority LA 70 average

60

50

40

30

20

10

[HT4 % of 54 sessions] as HT4 sessions] 48 [07/08 baseline 0 Wolverhampton

This graph sent to the Local Authority in July 2009 by the DCSF indicates the relative success of all the Local Authorities with high levels of persistent absence in reducing numbers of persistent absentees in relation to the 2007/08 baseline and the average performance for all these authorities. Each vertical red bar represents a Local Authority. OTPA refers to ‘Over-Target Persistent Absentees’. The height of the red bar indicates the number of persistent absentees in relation to the 2007/08 baseline. It will be apparent that all authorities have improved. Wolverhampton’s improvement has been better than average.

8 Absence in Wolverhampton - Secondary

11 10.5 Authorised 10 9.5 9 Unauthorised 8.5 8 Overall Absence 7.5 7 6.5 England Average Authorised 6 5.5 England Average 5 Unauthorised

% Absence 4.5 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 (Autumn and Spring Term only) Year

9

Absence in Wolverhampton - Primary

7.5

7 Authorised 6.5

6 Unauthorised

5.5

Overall Absence 5

4.5 England Average Authorised 4

3.5 England Average Unauthorised % Absence 3

2.5

2

1.5

1

0.5

0 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 (Autumn and Spring Term only) Year

10