Urge for collective community action to address school attendance problems
In a recent development, the issue of school absenteeism has been brought to the forefront, with various departments and stakeholders collaborating to tackle this challenge.
Deputy Paul Montague, the Education President, has highlighted that disruptions caused by reforms to the secondary education system might have contributed to the rise in school absenteeism. He emphasised that school absenteeism is an absolute drain on educational progress, and called for a comprehensive approach to address this issue.
To this end, new school governance boards will work closely with schools to set attendance targets. Deputy Montague also urged for collaboration among all departments and the community to ensure a collective effort in addressing school absenteeism.
The Health President, Deputy George Oswald, has also weighed in, stating that high levels of truancy are affecting Health & Social Care's workload, particularly in areas such as child protection and the Multi-Agency Support Hub.
In terms of academic performance, this year's GCSE results have shown a "very disappointing" fall in English attainment. However, there are some positive signs, with standards in schools improving in some cases, even exceeding English standards. Year 9 students, for instance, have shown positive progress in math skills, scoring higher than when they first entered secondary education.
The Education President has identified high rates of school absenteeism as a significant issue. To address this, Deputy Montague has newly appointed the Office of the Island's Independent School Inspection to conduct independent inspections in the island's schools. He also announced that more resources are being sought to tackle school absenteeism.
Moreover, problems in primary schools have been identified, with writing skills not as strong as reading skills. This is an area that needs attention and improvement.
Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, has been reappointed for another four years to carry out independent inspections across States schools. This move is expected to provide valuable insights and recommendations for improving the education system.
In conclusion, the issue of school absenteeism is having a significant impact on individuals, classmates, and teachers' workloads. It is a challenge that requires a collaborative and multi-departmental approach to ensure the best possible outcomes for the island's students.
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