Wrexham Secondary Attendance 2nd Best In Wales

Copyright: Eirian Evans

Secondary school attendance levels in Wrexham are the second highest in Wales according to the latest figures released by the Welsh Government for 2010/11.

The Welsh average went up by 0.3% this year to 91.4% from 91.1% for 2009/10. Wrexham was well above the average figure for the 22 Welsh authorities with attendances going up by 0.9% to 92.4% from 91.5% last year meeting the Welsh Government target of 92%.

The highest figures for Wales were Ceredigion with 92.5% (only 0.1% above Wrexham) and the lowest was Blaenau Gwent with 89.4%.

Wrexham council said that the figures were achieved as a result of a concerted effort in by the high schools in the area in conjunction with the Education Social Work Service as a corporate priority by implementing a number of strategies to improve attendance rates over recent years.

These have included a further rolling out of electronic registration and individual lesson monitoring, Attendance Support Officers supplementing the work of Education Social Workers and the continuation of the “Anti Holidays in Term Time” campaign.

The Welsh Government now collects figures directly and electronically from individual schools meaning that they are able to scrutinise individual pupils’ attendance.

Cllr Ron Davies, Leader of Wrexham Council, said:

“We have committed to improving the outcomes for our young people and to ensure they all achieve their full potential.

“We have invested substantial amounts of money in the schools infrastructure and in staff training and resources.

“This news is evidence that our efforts are working and I would like to thank everyone involved in making Wrexham a place where young people can achieve and aspire to better things.”

Further innovations are planned for next year including the use of the recently published Welsh Government document “All Wales Attendance Framework”, which offers advice to all Education Welfare/Social Work services in Wales. Wrexham ESW service had a substantial input in producing the document.

The Welsh Government is also producing an “Attendance Analysis Framework” in consultation with the Welsh Education Welfare/Social Work Services to analyse and scrutinise figures in more depth to identify vulnerable pupils.

Primary school figures are currently being collected by the Welsh Government and are due for publication in the new year.