AQW 832/17-22

Mr Roy Beggs
Ulster Unionist Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 23/01/2020
Answered On Date: 06/02/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) the rate per thousand of fifteen to seventeen year old pupils with a less than 85 percent attendance in 2018/19, broken down by (a) constituency; (b) electoral ward by constituency; and (ii) any action being taken to reduce the levels of absenteeism.

Answer:

(i) Due to resource issues within the Department of Education, Analytical Services Unit, attendance data for the academic year 2018/19 were not processed and published. It is envisaged that attendance data for the academic year 2019/20 will be processed and published in January 2021.

I have arranged for comparable data for 2017/18 to be placed in the Assembly Library.

(ii) I launched the pupil attendance strategy “Miss School = Miss Out” in December 2016 which provides a strategic framework for all the work that goes into maximising pupil attendance at schools. The four key themes identified within that strategy continue to be relevant today; strategic leadership; early intervention; tailored support and collaboration and engagement.

Actions are being progressed in numerous ways by the Department of Education, Education Authority, Education Welfare Service, schools, families and children.

A case studies good practice guide “The Challenge of Improving Pupil Attendance at School” was published by the Department in December 2018.