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What Ofsted Expect from Your Attendance Strategy
What Ofsted Are Really Looking For When It Comes to Attendance
When Ofsted visit, they aren’t just looking at numbers on a spreadsheet, they’re looking at the story behind those numbers. They want to see that schools don’t just record attendance, but actively understand it, respond to issues, and create a culture where pupils can flourish.
We’ve done some digging into recent inspections to see the kinds of phrases inspectors are using in their Attendance and Behaviour judgements.
Rigorous analysis
Ofsted want to see that you know your attendance data inside out. This means it’s not just about the overall numbers, but looking at different groups and patterns. Who is absent, how often, and are there emerging trends?
Identify causes
Ofsted expect schools to dig deeper and identify the reasons behind poor attendance. This could be health issues, social or emotional challenges, or barriers at home. Showing Ofsted that you understand the ‘why’ also demonstrates that as a school you respond in a meaningful way.
Act early and remove barriers
Once causes are clear, schools need to intervene quickly. Whether it’s providing extra support, adjusting learning plans, or removing barriers in the school environment, early and timely action is key.
Work with families and external agencies
Attendance isn’t just the responsibility of the school. Ofsted want to see effective collaboration with families, as well as with external agencies such as social care or healthcare providers. Working together ensures the right support reaches the pupils who need it most.
Persistent absence decreasing
Ultimately, Ofsted want to see progress. It’s not necessarily a problem to have persistent absentees – what school doesn’t?! – but persistent absence should be decreasing, and attendance overall should be improving at least in line with national averages. You need to outline what interventions you’re taking to make this happen.
Positive results will show that these interventions are effective and that the school’s approach is making a real difference.
Putting it into practice
Siân Mabberly, our Schools Success Manager, has unpacked the latest Ofsted toolkit and recent inspections to show exactly how schools can meet these expectations. Her free guide walks through the practical steps to rigorously analyse attendance, identify causes, act early, remove barriers, work with families, and reduce persistent absence.
— Jen Simmons