26 January 2005
School Roll Call Enters Cyber Age

First school attendance website and guidelines launched today

The traditional school roll call entered the cyber age today when the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) announced details of its new website, www.schoolreturn.ie, which will make it easier for schools around the country to comply with their legal obligations to report student absences to the Board.

In addition, the country’s first ever guidelines on reporting student absences and expulsions were sent out to all primary and post primary schools in the country. The guidelines provide step-by-step advice on how and when school attendance returns should be made and how the website can be used to simplify this vital job.

The launch took place at North Brunswick CBS School in Dublin’s north inner city with special guest Mr. Brian Lenihan, Minister for Children. Brunswick Street runs many innovative programmes designed to make coming to school more fun, including after school basketball, pool tournaments and guitar lessons. In addition, when the pupils arrive in the morning, they are scanned in by their Principal – a new answer to the traditional ‘anseo’. Up to now, this attendance data stayed within the school. Now, it can be sent with the push of a button to the NEWB so that it can provide vital support to the school, the children and their families.

"Our new website will help schools to report data easily and at no extra cost,” explained Eddie Ward, CEO. “We know that schools are already under pressure, yet, they are obliged under law to inform us about absences. Therefore, we have developed a system which helps them fulfill their obligations in a simple and easy way that involves no financial outlay to the school. The new website can be used as a school attendance management tool by the school and we will provide support to them on using the new website.”

Schools are being asked to report in summary format five times a year on designated dates. This year, however, they will only have to make three returns with the first return due in February. The returns will document students who have absences of 20 days or more and the reasons why, students about whose attendance the Principal is concerned or students whose names have been removed from the register because of expulsion or transfer to another school, for example.

"Information on school attendance is crucial to ensuring that the educational welfare of children and young people is looked after, now and in the future,” Eddie Ward continued. “If absences are reported, our Educational Welfare Offices can follow up quickly on students about whom there might be a concern. Secondly, the data gives us tangible information on which to base the future development of our service. If we see that a particular area has a high level of absenteeism, for example, we can focus our resources there so that children don’t continue to miss out on their education.

The website, guidelines and all other support materials have been developed in consultation with school managers, principals, teachers and parents. The website is confidential and will be accessed only using a school identity code. It is protected under the Data Protection Act (1988-2003) and the Education (Welfare) Act (2000).

The National Educational Welfare Board works to ensure that children and young people are encouraged to attend school on a regular basis and receive a adequate education.