On Tuesday 3 February, Attendance Leads from across the Trust came together for the annual Trust Attendance Conference, focused on improving attendance and supporting pupils to be in school every day.
The conference was joined by Alex Turner, DfE Assistant Director for School Attendance, and Helena Crow, DfE Policy Advisor for School Attendance, who shared clear national messages alongside practical advice for schools.
The day was built around three key sessions:
- The national picture on attendance, helping schools understand why attendance matters and how data can highlight priorities
- Understanding attendance improvement targets, and how these can help schools plan next steps
- Sharing good practice across the Trust, with examples of what is already working well in our schools
Sessions were clear, practical and focused on actions that Attendance Leads can take back to their schools. The conference also provided a valuable opportunity for colleagues to come together as a Trust team, share ideas and have open, honest conversations about our attendance strategy.
The clarity and consistency of messages throughout the day were particularly appreciated, reinforcing our shared commitment to supporting pupils to attend well and succeed.
