Written question WQ98262

We continue to see encouraging improvements in attendance across Wales. I am pleased that in the 2024-25 school year, overall absence in secondary schools reduced from 12.0% to 10.9% on the previous year, and persistent absence fell from 37.1% to 33.0%. However, we know there is more to be done.

The reasons behind school absences are often complex and can require intensive, multi‑agency support. This includes addressing attitudes towards school engagement, improving access to mental health and wellbeing services, and ensuring that learners can access specialist learning support where needed. That is why, this financial year, we have invested £7 million in initiatives that encourage positive engagement with school.

This includes supporting the work of Family Engagement Officers; further strengthening our Community Focused Schools approach; funding additional enrichment provision in schools; and increasing the capacity of our Food and Fun School Holiday Enrichment Programme.

We are also currently undertaking a consultation the school attendance codes to gain a more robust understanding of the reasons behind non-attendance to help inform policy and support as well as acting on the recommendations from Estyn’s Improving Attendance Progress update from May 2025 and continuing our attendance focused work via learner focus groups.

Review of school attendance codes

Adolygiad o godau presenoldeb ysgolion

Improving attendance in secondary schools: an update on progress