As part of the forthcoming package of attendance support materials from ES we have co-designed a series of Senior Leaders National Events on this topic. We are looking for your support in communicating these professional learning discussion opportunities with the school leaders in your linked authorities.
The sessions are running over three consecutive Monday’s from 24 February to 10 March, all from 3.30pm to 4.30pm
Session 1 – 24 February 2025
Improving attendance: Systems (Senior Leaders in Primary Schools)
This session will take a look at improving attendance and engagement within primary schools, with a focus on ‘systems’. It has been planned with senior leaders in schools and will include presentations from Loch & Cairns primary schools from South Lanarkshire. They will highlight their learning community approaches towards creating and sharing policy and procedures. The session will also build in time for discussion on engaging learners online to support improving school attendance.
Improving attendance: Systems (Senior Leaders in Secondary Schools)
This session will take a look at improving attendance and engagement within secondary schools, with a focus on ‘systems’. It has been planned with senior leaders in schools and will include presentations from Duncanrig secondary school, South Lanarkshire, highlighting their engagement in collaboration with the West Partnership, and evaluation tools used to support focus on developing a school policy. Dunoon Grammar school, Argyll & Bute, will focus on their partnership with Education Psychology Services as well as other partners, including third sector. The session will also build in time for discussion on engaging learners online to support improving school attendance.
Session 2 – 03 March 2025
Improving attendance: Culture
This session will take a look at improving attendance and engagement within primary and secondary schools, with a focus on ‘Cultures’. It has been planned with senior leaders in schools and will include a presentation from Greenwood Academy, North Ayrshire, and will focus on their approaches to improving learning engagement, recognising ‘push & pull’ factors experienced by young people at home and at school. This cross sectoral session will also build in time for discussion on embedding change in school at all levels to support improving school attendance.
Session 3 – 10 March 2025
This session will take a look at improving attendance and engagement within primary and secondary schools, with a focus on ‘Practices’. It has been planned with senior leaders in schools and will include a presentation from Dunoon Grammar School, Argyll & Bute, and will focus on their approaches to using current and historic data to support transitions, recognising that the use of data at all levels in school informs planning and the effective use of resources. This cross sectoral session will also build in time for discussions on early interventions at transition periods, mental wellbeing support and parental partnership practices.
