An evaluation of inspection reports on the management of secondary school attendance

Abstract

This is the first article to evaluate OfSTED reports on the management of attendance within secondary schools. Two hundred and twenty-seven OfSTED reports undertaken on secondary schools inspected during 2003 were scrutinised. These data were broken down and analysed using four distinct areas for investigation. These were: statistical data; regional variations; good practice; and poor practice. For the regional analysis, the selected regions were: the south west; the London area; central and north midlands; the north east; and the rest of England. It is manifestly clear from the evidence that OfSTED gives close attention to a school's official statistical rates of attendance in making their judgements about a school; not only in terms of attendance per se but also in relation to attainment and standards issues. In part, this can significantly influence the outcome of a school's inspection as well as having a crucial bearing on the content of the published report.

Acknowledgments

The author wishes to acknowledge and thank the contribution of Tony Lamb, Head of Library and Learning Resources at Swansea Institute of Higher Education for his contribution in selecting the OfSTED Reports for evaluation according to the specified criteria.

Notes

OFES Circular 3/99 sets out the instructions for staff in schools and within LEAS on how to mark attendance registers.

It was decided not to include full details on individual OfSTED reports on schools in order to protect anonymity.