On Sunday 31 August 2025, I joined Matthew Wright on LBC Breakfast to discuss the growing school attendance crisis. The Education Secretary has urged parents to “do more” to get their children into class, while the government expands Attendance and Behaviour Hubs. But as I argued on air, we need to look beyond punishment and fines.
Matthew opened the segment by laying out the scale of the challenge:
“Poor school attendance is a red flag for all manner of problems down the road—lower happiness, worse job prospects, even higher chances of encountering the criminal justice system.”
I agreed with Matthew’s assessment and emphasised that while most schools are excellent, we do face a serious attendance crisis in particular groups: children with special educational needs, those from disadvantaged families, and young carers.
Here are five ways we can really improve attendance:
1. Support vulnerable families
Many absences are linked to poverty, caring responsibilities, or unmet special needs. As I said on LBC, “Siblings are being asked to look after young children or a disabled relative at home—and that has a massive impact on attendance.” We need properly funded welfare officers and local authority support to knock on doors, visit families, and provide real help.
2. Invest in mental health and SEND provision
Since the pandemic, “school refusal” caused by anxiety, autism, or bullying has surged. Yet thousands of children still wait months or years for support. Research shows pupils with SEND are twice as likely to be persistently absent. Without addressing this, attendance rates will not recover.
3. Make the curriculum more engaging
Too often school feels irrelevant or overly exam-driven. I told Matthew: “These groups feel really shut out of school—it’s too academic for them in many ways. We need to make sure all of our children get a rounded education.” Subjects like music, drama, media studies, and PE are vital. Research shows that schools with strong arts provision have much higher attendance.
4. Provide incentives and enrichment
From breakfast clubs to volunteering opportunities, enrichment activities give young people a reason to attend. A 2025 UK study found some pupils came to school specifically for clubs and creative opportunities. As I highlighted, music programmes in particular have proven “massively successful” in re-engaging disenchanted students.
5. Build partnerships, not punishments
Government policy has leaned heavily on fines for parents. But, as union leaders warn, this often damages trust rather than solves the problem. When I first taught in Tower Hamlets, educational welfare officers worked with families—not against them. That approach worked then, and it can work now.
Conclusion
As Matthew put it, fines and finger-pointing are not enough when “a hell of a lot of kids are missing a hell of a lot of school.” The evidence is clear: engagement, support, and creativity—not punishment—are what really get children back into the classroom.