In a compelling address at the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Secretary of State Bridget Phillipson stressed the urgent need for parents to take a more active role in ensuring their children attend school regularly.
Phillipson highlighted a growing "casual attitude" among parents regarding school attendance, a trend she finds deeply concerning. She said:
"It's crucial that parents recognise their responsibilities in sending their children to school,"
“It’s not just about your responsibility to your own child, but about the responsibility you have to the whole school community and wider society. The decisions you take as an individual parent not to send your children to school, impacts the education of all children in the class.”

Recent analysis by the CSJ has unveiled a troubling decline in parental engagement. In 2022, only 25% of UK students attended schools where parents actively monitored their child's progress, a significant drop from 37% in 2018. The CSJ's research has consistently shown the critical importance of parental involvement in improving students' attendance, academic progress, and overall well-being.
The disconnect between schools and parents is further highlighted by CSJ's polling data, which reveals that 28% of parents now believe daily school attendance is non-essential due to the pandemic. This shift in mindset poses a severe challenge to educational institutions striving to maintain consistent student attendance.
In response to these findings, the CSJ has partnered with The Rigby Foundation to launch a new initiative aimed at re-engaging parents in their children's education. The project seeks to rebuild trust and communication between schools and families, involving collaboration with local authorities across England.
Commenting on the initiative, CSJ Chief Executive Andy Cook said:
“Something has gone wrong with the contract between schools and families. Teachers and government cannot do it alone. Supportive and engaged parents are essential to helping schools maximise their children’s potential.
“The Secretary of State for Education laid out her plans to support parents, but she is right that they too must accept responsibility to get their kids to school.
“We are delighted to be working with The Rigby Foundation on this urgent project.”
The initiative will particularly focus on the West Midlands, a region that suffers from higher-than-average persistent school absence rates. The final report and recommendations from this project are expected to be released later this summer, offering a potential roadmap for improving parental engagement nationwide.
As the UK faces this crisis in school attendance, Phillipson's call to action serves as a crucial reminder of the vital role parents play in their children's education. By fostering stronger partnerships between home and school, it is hoped that more students will benefit from the consistent educational opportunities they deserve.
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