28 October 2004
First National Data on Irish School Attendance Levels Provides Benchmark Information for Development of Education Services

- shows strong relationship between levels of disadvantage and levels of non-attendance

- shows children in rural areas have better school attendance than urban areas

The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) today – 28 October 2004 – released the first-ever comprehensive report on the levels of non-attendance at Irish schools: “Analysis of school attendance data at primary and post-primary levels for 2003/2004.” The report was compiled from returns sent in by principals of primary and post-primary schools last summer. The NEWB is responsible for following up on poor school attendance and for supporting the education and training of children and young people.

“This report gives us the first comprehensive picture of the levels of non-attendance at school in Ireland. The levels of non attendance reported by Primary and Post Primary schools are a major cause of concern to the Board. We must work to raise awareness of the importance of education in a child's life at all levels of society and get help and support to those families in need" Eddie Ward (CEO, NEWB) said.

“One of the most disturbing finding to emerge is that young children in poorer urban areas are experiencing multiple disadvantages which are having a negative effect on their school attendance and educational achievements” Eddie Ward added.

“This must be explored further as a matter of urgency. Intervention at primary level is particularly important to prevent the habit of irregular attendance becoming entrenched in a child’s life. Various cost benefit analyses have also shown that it is more cost effective to intervene at this early stage” he said.

Summary of Main Findings

Attendance is lower at Post Primary than Primary. At primary, the average absence is 11 days out of 183. At Post Primary, the average absence is 15 days out of 167.
1 in ten students is absent for 20 days or more at Primary. Almost 1 in 5 students is absent
for 20 days or more at Post Primary. These rates are similar to those in England.

Attendance is lower in poorer areas. In the RAPID cities and large towns, every Post Primary student is absent for 20 days on average. 1 in 4 Post Primary students miss 20 days or more. In other areas, every Post Primary student is absent for 14 days and almost 1 in 5 miss 20 days or more. In RAPID cities and large towns, every Primary student is absent for 17 days on average. Almost 1 in 4 misses 20 days or more. In other areas, the average absence is 10 days and 1 in 10 miss 20 days or more.

Average attendance in the most disadvantaged Post Primary schools is 86.1% (or 23 days absence) and 94.6% (9 days absence) at the least disadvantaged schools, a difference of8.5%. This difference is also evident in relation to the number of children who miss 20 days or more, 38% of students in the most disadvantaged schools and 8.5% in the least disadvantaged schools, a difference of 29.9%.

Students from disadvantaged backgrounds attending rural Primary schools attend school more regularly than children attending urban schools with similar levels of disadvantage. Average attendance in the least disadvantaged schools in urban areas is at nearly 95% (9 days absence) compared to 89.6% (19 days absence) in the most disadvantaged schools – a difference of over 5%. In rural areas, however, the attendance levels at the least and most disadvantaged schools stand at 95.3% and 94.3% respectively – a difference of 1%. The urban/rural difference is even more pronounced in relation to the percentage of students absent for 20 days or more. In urban areas the difference between the least and most disadvantaged schools is 21.4% while in rural areas the difference is just 5%.

Attendance levels at Post Primary vary by sector with Secondary having the highest levels at 92.5%, followed by Community and Comprehensive schools at 90.9% and Vocational schools 89.8%. This trend is also evident in the numbers of students who miss 20 days or more.

The study concludes that there is a strong relationship between the levels of disadvantage in a school and both the level of attendance and the number of children who miss 20 days or more. Schools with larger numbers of children from disadvantaged backgrounds tend to have greater problems with attendance.

The study confirms the findings of other research that attendance rates influence school retention rates and average performance in the Junior Certificate.

All schools have a code of behaviour that is available to parents.

Student expulsions are rare.

What Next?

“We now know the scale of the difference in attendance levels between Primary and Post Primary, between the most disadvantaged and least disadvantaged schools and between urban and rural schools” Eddie Ward said.

He said that the findings support the targeting policy followed by the NEWB to date in appointing Educational Welfare Officers to the areas of greatest disadvantage i.e. RAPID city areas and large towns.

"Further research is needed to explore in greater detail the reasons for absences and the patterns of absences so that we can respond more effectively. The study also shows that non attendance is a major issue nationally and is not confined to the most disadvantaged areas ” Mr.Ward said.

Mr Ward concluded "This data on school attendance outlines the challenge facing the NEWB and others working with children and young people. The Board will continue to work collaboratively with families, schools and others to reduce non attendance and to ensure that every child receives an education. We will shortly issue guidance to schools on the reporting of individual student absences which will help educational welfare staff identify children who are having difficulty".

Analysis of the data was undertaken for the NEWB by the Educational Research Centre, Dublin.

Report and Summary findings
Download Summary Tables (PDF Format)
Download Summary Findings (PDF Format)
Download Full Report (PDF Format)

For further information, please contact: Stuart M. Kenny Tel: 01-2869138 / 087- 2619658