Pontypool school finds 95% attendance means B grades, 90% or less means D

Year 11 pupils at St Alban's RC High School in Pontypool who attend 95 per cent of the time achieve B grades on average, Torfaen Council says, citing the school's own data. Pupils with attendance between 90 and 95 per cent get C grades on average, and those at 90 per cent or below get an average of D grades.

Targeted help

The school has compared Year 11 attendance with grades over several years. The council says it is the first long-term study of the link between attendance and exam results in Torfaen. Staff use the data to offer wellbeing support, mentoring and contact with families. The council says support has had an effect: one pupil's attendance rose from 46% to 90.7% and another's from 77% to 85.2%.

What they said

Kevin Jones, the school's Assistant Headteacher for Wellbeing and Inclusion, said: "Attendance is one of the strongest indicators of academic success. Our data clearly shows that pupils who attend school regularly achieve significantly better outcomes." Cllr Richard Clark, Executive Member for Children, Families and Education, said pupils averaging 90 per cent attendance miss the equivalent of half a day a week, or a month a year. He urged pupils and families to seek help if they need it. The figures are the school's own averages as reported by the council. No cohort size or years were given, and the study has not been independently checked.