Some of West Yorkshire’s highest-performing secondary schools have demonstrated that they also shine in another measure - supporting strong attendance.
The Government has now released full absence and attendance figures for 2023/24 school year. Across the country, one in five pupils were labelled ‘persistently absent’, meaning they missed at least 10% of half-day sessions in class. On top of that, the overall absence rate - the percentage of half-days missed for all pupils - remains considerably higher than before the pandemic.
Another new Department for Education report highlights just how much of a difference missing school can make to pupil attainment. It found those who attended school nearly every day in Year 11 were almost twice as likely to achieve a Grade 5 in their English and Maths GCSEs, compared to those who attended 90 to 95% of the time. This means missing just 10 days of school cuts the likelihood of getting a strong pass by around 50%.
Included with the Government’s attendance figures was the absence data for each state-funded secondary school in England. We’ve taken a look at how West Yorkshire’s more than 130 secondary schools did - excluding private and special schools - across the Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield council areas.
These schools have exceptionally low rates of absences for any reason, a particularly impressive feat considering that some local schools have overall absence rates nearing 20%. It is worth noting that while middle schools have been excluded, we have included all-through schools if pupils sit their GCSEs there - but their attendance rates may also include primary pupils.
Here were the 15 West Yorkshire schools which came out on top:
7. The North Halifax Grammar School
This is a selective secondary academy and sixth form in Illingworth, Halifax. In the 2023/24 school year, it had an overall absence rate of 6.14%. | Google
8. The Crossley Heath School
Another selective secondary academy and sixth form in Halifax, Crossley Heath had a high ‘above average’ Progress 8 score off the back of the last secondary school exam season. In the 2023/24 school year, it had an overall absence rate of 6.17%. | Google
9. Roundhay School
This is a local authority-maintained all-through school in Leeds, whose secondary-aged pupils earned it a spot in the ‘well above average’ band for Progress 8 scores last year. In the 2023/24 school year, it had an overall absence rate of 6.26%. | Google
10. Salendine Nook High School Academy
Salendine Nook is a secondary academy in Huddersfield, with an ‘above average’ Progress 8 score. In the 2023/24 school year, it had an overall absence rate of 6.46%. | Google
11. Shelley College
Shelley College is a high-achieving upper school which takes students from the age of 13, between the villages of Shelley and Skelmanthorpe - near Huddersfield. In the 2023/24 school year, it had an overall absence rate of about 6.6%. | Google
12. Brighouse High School
This is a secondary academy and sixth form in Brighouse, in the Calderdale borough. In the 2023/24 school year, it had an overall absence rate of 6.82%. | Google