In order to leave primary school with the skills they need to succeed throughout the rest of their educational journey, good attendance is vital.
But across the country, our children’s attendance rates show definite room for improvement. The Government’s latest absence and attendance figures, covering the full 2023/24 school year, show that the overall absence rate - the percentage of half-days missed for all pupils - still lingers well above pre-pandemic figures. One in five pupils were also labelled ‘persistently absent’, meaning they missed at least 10% of these half-day sessions.
A recent Department for Education report highlighted how big a difference this can make, even in the primary school years. It found that pupils who attended school nearly every day in Year 6 were 1.3 times more likely to meet the Government’s expected standards in reading, writing and maths compared to pupils who only attended 90-95% of the time. This means missing just 10 days of school cuts their chances by around 25%.
With more than 300 primary schools across the county - including infant and junior schools - we’ve taken a closer look at how those in the North and West Northamptonshire council areas measure up when it comes to pupils missing class. Using this data, we have created a league table for parents featuring the state-funded schools with the lowest absence rates.
It has given many smaller village schools the chance to shine. But equally, larger schools with roll sizes in the hundreds in places like Wellingborough and Towcester have also made the list.
Here were the 17 schools that came out on top:
5. Maidwell Primary School
This is a local authority-maintained primary school in Maidwell, West Northamptonshire, with a roll size of about 65. It too boasts an above average academic performance. In the 2023/24 school year, it had an overall absence rate of 3.4%. | Google
6. Boddington Church of England Primary Academy
This is an Anglican primary academy in Upper Boddington, West Northamptonshire, not far from Daventry. It is a smaller school, with a roll size of just 51 pupils. In the 2023/24 school year, it had an overall absence rate of 3.5%. | Google
7. Kings Cliffe Endowed Primary School
This is a local authority-maintained primary school in the village of Kings Cliffe, North Northamptonshire. It has about 222 pupils, and a higher-than-average amount meeting Government standards. In the 2023/24 school year, it too had an overall absence rate of 3.5%. | Google
8. Grendon Church of England Primary School
This is a local authority-maintained Anglican primary school in Grendon, North Northamptonshire. It has a roll size of about 116, and a notably higher-than-average rate of pupils achieving Government performance targets. In the 2023/24 school year, it had an overall absence rate of 3.6%. | Google