Camden schools are grappling with a concerning trend: a rise in unauthorised lateness among pupils. The issue was brought to the forefront during a recent meeting of the Children, Schools and Families Scrutiny Committee, where data revealed that Camden schools recorded the second-highest percentage rate of absences due to Code U unauthorised lateness in England, and the highest in London.

Specifically, in secondary schools, 0.41% of absences (283 sessions) are attributed to Code U unauthorised lateness. Only Bristol had a higher rate, with 0.42% (523 sessions), while Tower Hamlets has the lowest rate at 0.02% (40 sessions).

Code U is used to record unauthorised absences specifically for lateness, highlighting the severity of the problem in the borough. The data, extracted from a monthly Attendance Leads e-newsletter, underscores the need for targeted interventions to address this growing concern.

While the e-newsletter extract did not provide specific figures for individual schools, it did highlight the overall percentage rate of absences attributed to Code U. This borough-wide data suggests a systemic issue that requires a coordinated response.

To combat absenteeism, Camden has launched a campaign with the slogan Every School Day Counts , with posters displayed at bus stops around Camden.

Beyond the existing campaign, Camden is piloting a 'team around the school' model in two primary schools. These involve fortnightly meetings between schools, Camden Learning, and the local Family Hub, focusing on children whose absence rate falls between 10% and 20%.

Camden Learning offers resources and support to schools to improve attendance, including:

  • School attendance data booklets
  • Monthly attendance e-newsletters
  • Attendance network meetings
  • Training for attendance leads and officers

Camden Learning is also trialling an Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) toolkit with schools to help understand the reasons behind school avoidance. The EBSA toolkit will be trialled with a few schools in the first instance and then launched later this academic year.

Links to videos promoting school attendance are also available, including the School Attendance Animation Film 2024 and Lost in the Game | The Toll on School Attendance.

The Children, Schools and Families Scrutiny Committee continues to monitor attendance data and explore strategies to support schools and families in prioritising punctuality and regular attendance.