Midlands City Struggles with Some of the Worst School Attendance Rates

Stoke-on-Trent: It’s been reported that this Midlands city has some of the lowest primary school attendance rates in the country. After the Christmas break, over one in 15 kids were missing from class.

While some absences were approved, the city’s unauthorised absence rate hit 4.9%. That’s about one in 20 kids not showing up without a good reason.

Stoke ranked sixth for the worst overall attendance, with an 8.6% absence rate. It’s the only area in the West Midlands to make the top 40 for poor attendance, according to the latest stats from the Department for Education.

Kirklees in Yorkshire and Wirral in Merseyside topped the list with an 11.1% absence rate. Birmingham wasn’t far behind, with a 6.3% overall absence and 2.7% unauthorised.

These figures highlight the ongoing north/south divide in the UK. Most of the areas struggling with attendance are in the north or Midlands.

Concerns are growing that attendance hasn’t bounced back since Covid. Some parents are hesitant to send their kids to school. There are also talks about keeping a closer eye on home schooling, as many worry that kids might not be getting a proper education outside of traditional schools.

To tackle unauthorised absences, fines have increased from £60 to £80, and can go up to £160 if not paid on time. This move aims to discourage parents from taking their kids out of school for cheaper holidays during term time.