School attendance around the UK has continued to fall as the coronavirus pandemic takes a toll on education.
The Education Policy Institute said that rising infection rates had created challenges for schools since they reopened, with hundreds of pupils and staff being sent home following outbreaks of the virus.
The rates are regionalised around the UK. Which areas have the highest rates of absence? This blog post explained.
A third of pupils absent in some areas
Analysis has shown a disparity of absences around the UK.
In the north-west of England, as many as four in 10 secondary pupils were unable to attend school during October.
The lowest secondary school attendance level in England was 61% in Knowsley.
In areas with high infection rates, Liverpool (67%) and Rochdale (70%) had low attendance figures.
Attendance was also low in areas with low infections – suggesting there are more factors at play than just the illness.
In Scotland and Wales:
Scotland: Range from 81% in the Outer Hebrides and 87% in Glasgow to 95% in Aberdeenshire, Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands.
Wales: Varies from 81% in Merthyr Tydfil and Denbighshire, to 93% in Ceredigion and 94% in Monmouthshire.
What could falling attendance mean for exams?
Earlier this autumn, the Scottish Government made the decision to cancel all exams with the exception of Highers.
The Welsh exam regulator could soon follow suit.
Qualifications Wales is recommending GCSE exams be scrapped in favour of assessments, saying this was the best way of ensuring fairness to pupils, while offering certainty over what will happen in uncertain times.
In England, exams are set to go ahead but with a three week delay for catch up learning.
Exam regulator, Ofqual, is consulting on how GCSE and A-level exams can be modified so they are held fairly next summer. There could be changes and contingency plans announced in the next few weeks.
Teachers’ unions and headteachers have called for the Westminster Government to draw up a “plan B”, in case exams cannot take place.
How can schools use remote education to cope with student absence?
By using EDClass to support remote learners, you can provide all students with access to high quality education. This ensures you meet the legislation in the Coronavirus Act on Education.
The online platform provides access to:
- 11,000+ lessons
- Live and recorded teaching
- Learning resources, assessments, tasks and quizzes
- A tailored learning pathway for individual students’ needs
- A skills gaps analysis to identify students’ strengths and weaknesses
- A sophisticated tracking platform to identify attendance and attainment
- A range of safeguarding features including eyes-on learning, alert mechanisms, questionnaires, instant chat and check-ups with students
All EDClass staff are enhanced DBS checked.
The platform has been inspected by Ofsted. Read the report here.
You can browse testimonials here.
Try a free demonstration here.
For more information call 01909 568 338.
