Hundreds of thousands of children across England are set to benefit from calmer classrooms, improved attendance, and stronger government support as the new school year begins.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has unveiled a bold new initiative to tackle disruptive behaviour and absenteeism, urging parents to play their part in getting children into school and ready to learn.
New data reveals that seven out of every 30 classroom minutes are lost due to poor behaviour, prompting the Department for Education to roll out a comprehensive support package for schools. The initiative is part of the government’s Plan for Change, aimed at breaking the link between background and success through education.
The government’s renewed focus on attendance has already delivered results, with five million more days in school and 140,000 fewer persistently absent pupils last year. This marks the biggest year-on-year improvement in attendance in a decade, equivalent to 1,000 full-time classes and estimated to protect over £2 billion in future earnings for pupils.
The Education Secretary commented:
“I am calling on parents, schools and families to join us in playing their part to get children in class and ready to learn for the start of the new school term.
“We have already made progress with five million more days in school this year and are backing parents and supporting schools through our Plan for Change. But we all need to do more, and when it comes to getting kids in and behaving – this includes mums, dads and carers too.
“We know what works - strong leadership, consistent attendance and schools standing shoulder to shoulder with families. That’s why we’re investing in proven expertise so that schools facing the biggest challenges can get the support they need.”
From this term, 800 schools serving around 600,000 pupils will benefit from new RISE Attendance and Behaviour Hubs, sharing proven strategies from successful school leaders. In total, 5,000 schools will be supported, with 500 receiving intensive, targeted help.
Tom Bennett and Jayne Lowe have been appointed as Attendance and Behaviour Ambassadors, ensuring the sector’s voice is central to shaping the programme.
The initiative complements wider government efforts to support children’s education and wellbeing, including:
- Free breakfast clubs nationwide
- Expanded mental health support in schools
- £1.4 billion investment to repair school buildings
- Increased pupil premium funding to support disadvantaged children
The Department for Education’s upcoming schools white paper will outline further plans to crack down on poor behaviour, reinforce accountability, and empower families to support their children’s learning journey.
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