Across the country, school leaders are facing a growing challenge around pupil attendance. Government data shared today for the autumn and spring terms of 2024/25 show a small improvement in overall attendance compared with the same period last year, yet absence levels remain higher than before the pandemic, when they consistently stayed below 5%. Worryingly, the number of pupils who are severely absent (missing 50% or more of their lessons) continues to rise. Furthermore, pupils eligible for free school meals are still almost twice as likely to be absent as their peers, and the attendance gap between pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and those without has widened further.

The Difference’s report, Who’s Losing Learning, reinforces the impact of this: 32 million days lost to suspensions and absence last year. That’s like every child in Liverpool skipping school for two years straight. The Exclusions Continuum (page 12, if you’re keen) demonstrates how disengagement builds over time, often unnoticed until it’s too late.

The Department for Education’s latest analysis (May 2025) on Year-on-Year Change in Pupil Attendance highlights emerging patterns in attendance and engagement:

• As pupils get older, their attendance patterns worsen. There is a consistent decline in the likelihood of pupils improving their attendance year-on-year, especially during key transitions, such as the move from primary to secondary school.
• Children with poor attendance in primary school are more likely to recover and improve their attendance the following year, compared to their peers in secondary school. But this recovery rate drops significantly by Year 7.

This confirms what many school leaders already feel on the ground: transition points are critical tipping points. Without the right support and early intervention, pupils at risk of becoming persistently absent may not recover, with attendance and achievement alike adversely affected.

Sport and Physical Activity as an Early Intervention Strategy

School leaders know attendance isn’t just about compliance, it’s about belonging. When young people feel part of their school community, they’re more likely to attend, creating a virtuous circle where their positive attitudes towards and experiences of school encourage ongoing attendance. But how do we create a school environment where all young people feel a sense of belonging and purpose? Sport, enrichment and play more broadly are powerful tools in tackling these issues, but to unlock their full potential must be intentional, targeted, and embedded in whole-school strategies.

This is where sport can and must play a role. Instead of an add-on, sport should be considered a strategic lever to support those pupils who are on the cusp of becoming persistently absent.

Many pupils who struggle with attendance do so because they don’t feel connected to school life. Initiatives such as our Youth Sport Trust’s Sport Sanctuaries and targeted cocurricular activities (such as youth led, multi-sport clubs) offer safe spaces and positive role models, giving pupils a reason to show up, as well as access to a range of activities so every child can discover a passion

The Education Policy Institute’s (EPI) report last year on extracurricular participation highlights the disparities in access to enrichment activities. Their research found that vulnerable pupils - such as those eligible for free school meals, students with special educational needs or disabilities, and those with lower prior attainment - were significantly less likely to attend sports clubs or activities in the arts, music, and hobbies.

Yet, attending extracurricular or cocurricular clubs during secondary school is linked to long-term benefits, inclusive of attendance. Pupils who participated in these activities were more likely to progress to higher education, secure employment, and maintain higher levels of sports participation into adulthood, supporting their long-term physical, mental and social wellbeing.

Therefore, these findings reinforce the need to remove barriers to participation and ensure that enrichment is accessible and meaningful for all pupils.

Redhill MAT: Linking Attendance and Cocurricular Engagement

One Multi-Academy Trust leading the way in understanding this link is Redhill MAT, who are working with the Youth Sport Trust to explore how sport and enrichment can drive better attendance outcomes. Their findings show a clear positive relationship between cocurricular participation and attendance, particularly among children on the pupil premium list.

Key to this is being intentional with their offerings. Redhill select sports like handball, boccia and rowing, choosing activities linked to local facilities or National Governing Body headquarters, to help pupils connect with community clubs and discover new pathways. This strategy engages those who may not take part in more traditional activities and helps build meaningful connections beyond school.

Redhill MAT’s approach shows that providing structured opportunities for pupils to engage in sport and enrichment activities can play a critical role in boosting attendance and closing the gap between disadvantaged students and their peers.

Hear more specifics from Redhill MAT in the Youth Sport Trust Webinar: Enrichment in Action – Practical Approaches from Schools and Trusts.

Youth Voice and Active Listening

Co-Op MAT also introduced a simple but powerful approach: every school was required to hold 1:1 conversations with a minimum of 50 students, encouraging and listening to youth voice. The insights from these conversations directly informed school and trust-wide policies. Imagine the impact if we consistently asked our pupils about their experiences with attendance, barriers to participation, and what would help them feel more connected to school.

For school leaders, this means:

• Moving beyond traditional attendance monitoring and engaging in real conversations with students.
• Using pupil insights to shape PE and cocurricular offerings as a way of engaging or re-engaging them into school life.
• Ensuring that sport and enrichment activities are accessible to all, not just the most engaged students.

It is hoped the upcoming Enrichment Framework will give more schools the chance and further guidance to explore these insights and new approaches for themselves.

Webinar: Enrichment in Action – Practical Approaches from Schools and Trusts

Interested in learning more and gaining practical strategies to boost engagement and attendance? Join the Youth Sport Trust, alongside MAT leaders, the Duke of Edinburgh representatives and Department for Education officials, for our webinar: Enrichment in Action – Practical Approaches from Schools and Trusts.

This session will focus on real-world application; what’s working, what’s scalable, and how schools are preparing for the Department for Education’s forthcoming Enrichment Framework (expected to be published shortly).

• 11^th November 3:45 - 4:45pm
• Free to attend – open to all schools and trusts
• Sign up to register here

Attendees will also receive two free digital resources designed to provide further support and ideas.