11 September 2025

And we’re back.

Hands up if setting last week’s alarm was a struggle? We get it. The first week of term is always an adjustment. Maybe your child’s summer was a series of leisurely lie-ins -planning at their own pace – and now, it’s morning routines, school bells and timetables again.
But getting up for school, and getting into class are so important.

It’s not just about tired eyes in the morning. Nationally, school attendance is a growing concern.

Just last week, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson highlighted new Department for Education (DfE) data, which showed overall absence fell in autumn 2024/25, but the number of pupils classed as ‘severely absent’ (missing over half of school days) rose from 142,000 to 148,000.

That’s the picture in England and in Wales we already know that good attendance is closely tied to opportunities and future quality of life.

So, we want to continue the conversation: to understand the challenges you and your children face and find a way to get them back into the classroom and learning, together.

What’s the current state of play in secondary school attendance in Wales?

The good news; attendance is improving. However, six years on, attendance across Wales has still not recovered to pre-pandemic levels. In 2018/19 attendance averaged 94.3% and despite marginal improvements in 2023/24 overall school attendance in Wales (5-16 year olds) still only averaged 90.5%.

How does this compare to secondary schools figures?

  • In 2023/24, secondary pupils missed 12% of half day sessions (slightly down from 12.5% in 2022/23, but nearly double 2018/19)
  • 37.1% of secondary pupils were persistently absent (missing 10%+ of sessions)
  • Year 11 had the highest absence rate at 45.2%
  • Free School Meal (FSM) students missed 20.1% of sessions (compared with 9.8% for non-FSM), with 61.4% persistently absent
  • Additional Learning Needs (ALN) and Special Educational Need (SEN) students missed 17.2% sessions (vs 11.2% for those without)
  • Girls recorded slightly higher absences than boys (12.5% vs 11.5%).

Why the concern? If attendance rates are creeping back up and we’re only talking 3-4% difference, what’s the real impact to the classroom, to our learners and their futures?

What’s the impact of poor school attendance on attainment?

All the evidence suggests there is a direct, positive link between attendance and attainment. Research by the Department for Education (DfE), allowing for socio-economic factors, found:

  • Attendance gains at Key Stage 4 (KS4) impact GCSE results
  • Moving up by one 5-point attendance band (e.g. 90-95% – 95-100%) significantly increased the likelihood of achieving Grade 5+ in English and Maths
  • Even those at the other end of the scale, the most severely absent, benefited from an increase in the time spent in school
  • Pupils increasing attendance from below 50% to 60-65% (equating to approximately an extra 4-6 weeks in school) were twice as likely to meet the standard expected.

Estyn has warned that, despite recent improvements, it could take 10+ years for attendance rates to recover to pre-pandemic levels.
This is not a future problem, it is affecting our students, right now.

We have already seen attendance levels, especially in Year 11 (KS4), are low. In 2023/24, pupils in their GCSE year in Wales averaged 85.3% attendance, with almost half (45.2%) persistently absent.

Research from the Department for Education (DfE) shows the impact low attendance can have on academic attainment. And while in recent years, Estyn’s own analysis has focused on trends and persistent absence rates, in the past they have also found pupils who missed more school were far less likely to achieve GCSE benchmarks.

Only 4% of those missing more than half of sessions reach the expected standard: every percentage point of attendance makes a difference to future results.

If we already know every lesson counts, what’s stopping our students from achieving 95%+ attendance?

What are the reasons for school absences in Wales?

It’s easy to think absence is just about illness or a lack of motivation, but we understand the reality for many of our students is far more complex. Both the Estyn Report and our own student voice surveys highlight a wide range of challenges, preventing our students from attending school, regularly:

  • Stress and Anxiety – there is a rising number of students reporting school-related anxiety, especially post-pandemic, with Estyn suggesting a ‘substantial increase’ in mental health challenges
  • Poor Sleep – from our own research, tiredness was one of the most common reasons students gave for missing lessons. NHS guidance suggest teenagers need between 8-10 hours sleep but late nights, too much screen-time and poor routines are having an impact
  • Relationships – difficulties with peers, strained teacher relationships and bullying are sometimes cited as reasons why students avoid going to school. Staying away can feel like the only option
  • Financial Pressure – costs for uniforms, equipment and travel can be a challenge for many families. Getting to school isn’t always easily accessible or affordable
  • Illness – illness remains the single biggest reason for low attendance. Furthermore, Estyn recognised an increase in parent/carer concern about their children attending school since the pandemic – with some children being kept off with even mild symptoms.

Absence is rarely just about one thing. For some it’s a mix of anxiety, friendship worries and poor sleep. For others it can be financial challenges or health related issues.

Behind every statistic is a real student, with their unique experience of school-life. But the outcome is the same – hours of learning lost.

When students miss school, they don’t just lose out on lesson time, they miss the opportunities to build confidence, communicate with classmates and teachers, get organised and meet deadlines; future life-skills.

So, what can we do to support our students and their families so they feel able to attend school and succeed, together.

How is LHS supporting student attendance?

We’ve been working hard to improve our post-pandemic attendance and are proud to say our whole school attendance rate is currently 91.3%. But we’re not done and have ambitions to increase that to 92.5% this academic year.

We know the challenges are real and that no two students face the same barriers. That’s why we’ve put a range of support in place to help every learner succeed.

  • Building Routine – missing the first week of term can lead to ‘persistent absences’ and good attendance starts with good sleep. Screen-free time before bed and consistent wake-up calls help set a regular routine leading to calmer more predictable mornings.
  • Normalising Nerves – first term nerves are normal but ongoing anxiety can’t be overlooked. Resources like the recently published guide from Cygnet Healthcare help identify signs of anxiety and provide practical strategies supporting you and your child. Whilst your child is in school our Wellbeing Centre provides a range of services and offers a quiet space. Open from 7:30AM, with a team on-site until 3:30PM, we work with the CAMHS Primary Mental Health In-Reach Team, Youth Mentors and Cardiff Safeguarding Team offering bespoke support to our pupils – for when everything can feel a little too much.
  • Tackling Financial Barriers – the cost of living crisis has impacted many in our community. We’ve introduced a number of measures to support our students and their families; from travel to school to our Blazer Exchange Programme. The Welsh Government also provides a grant to eligible families to help with the School Essentials; including uniforms and learning equipment. Applications are now open, closing 31st May 2026. Financial support can make a big difference to how your child experiences school. If you need any help in applying please speak to reception.
  • Positive Relationships – while there is always a focus on engagement, high-quality and purposeful teaching we know the value of building a community at LHS. Beyond our Anti-Bullying Policy and reporting routes: through our Peer Mentor group and on-site Youth Worker, Jordan Edwards, we’re here to equip our students with the skills and resilience to cope with every-day school life; building a safe and inclusive environment for all.

Succeeding Together

We know there’s more work to be done.

Improving attendance is all our responsibility and we need your help. This academic year we’ll be sharing initiatives, guidance and keeping the conversation going.

Talking with your child about the importance of their attendance can make a difference. From Week 1 to the end of the year – every lesson really does count.

Good attendance helps your child have a full school-life. From academic success to the confidence to make new friends.

And remember attendance issues can escalate, so if you have any concerns please get in touch via reception – the sooner we know, the sooner we can help.