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<p>Detailed pupil absence data is collected as part of the school census and published
on a termly basis. All absence data for England, including data at regional and local
authority level, is available via the national statistics releases: <a href="https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk"
target="_blank">https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk</a>.</p><p>Data
from autumn term of academic year 2020/21 shows that Romford had an overall absence
rate of 3.9%, whilst 12.4% of sessions were recorded as pupils not attending in circumstances
related to COVID-19. During this time, nationally, the overall absence rate was 4.7%
and 7% of sessions were recorded for pupils not attending in circumstances relating
to COVID-19.</p><p>The table below shows full year absence data for Romford compared
to national. School census data was not collected in academic year 2019/20 because
of the disruption to face to face education caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>
</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>2016/17</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>2017/18</p></td><td
colspan="2"><p>2018/19</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Romford</p></td><td><p>National</p></td><td><p>Romford</p></td><td><p>National</p></td><td><p>Romford</p></td><td><p>National</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Overall
absence rate</p></td><td><p>4.6</p></td><td><p>4.7</p></td><td><p>4.5</p></td><td><p>4.8</p></td><td><p>4.3</p></td><td><p>4.7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Persistent
absence rate</p></td><td><p>10.7</p></td><td><p>10.8</p></td><td><p>10.6</p></td><td><p>11.2</p></td><td><p>9.8</p></td><td><p>10.9</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p>To support stronger attendance, the department has a comprehensive attendance
strategy to ensure that absence is minimised. We are continuing to closely monitor
absence levels and trends.</p><p>My right hon. Friend, Secretary of State for Education,
has established an alliance of national leaders from education, children’s social
care and allied services to work together to raise school attendance and reduce persistent
absence. The Attendance Action Alliance has pledged to take a range of actions to
remove barriers preventing children attending school. Full details of the work being
taken forward can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/attendance-alliance-group"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/attendance-alliance-group</a>.</p><p>We
need to ensure the lessons learned during the COVID-19 outbreak help us strengthen
and improve the school attendance system to ensure the absence facing us today does
not become perpetual. Therefore, the department is also reviewing the system as a
whole. As part of this, we have recently launched an attendance consultation which
seeks views on proposals to build on schools, trusts, and local authorities existing
work for attendance and improve the consistency of attendance support for families
across England. Information on this is available to view here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/school-attendance-improving-consistency-of-support"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/school-attendance-improving-consistency-of-support</a>.</p><p>The
department has also appointed a team of expert attendance advisers. The advisers are
working closely with a number of local authorities and multi-academy trusts (MATs)
who are keen to improve their attendance practice and reduce persistent absence. They
will support MATs and local authorities to review their current approach and help
them to develop an action plan to improve.</p><p>The department continues to make
clear that schools and local authorities should identify pupils who may be disengaged
from education and develop plans to re-engage them.</p><p> </p>
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