Education Secretary Vows to Crack Down on School Absences

The Education Secretary has vowed to clamp down on the 'absence epidemic' in schools. She warned that parents who allow their children to skip school are significantly diminishing their future earning potential.
Broadcast on 02/09/24
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[@M.Sid9.3]

We need cheaper holidays. The prices in school holidays are hiked massively and ridiculous.

[@bandidapromax]

And you think the cost of holidays is due to whom?

[@paulholton]

The only two lessons I have learned at school that meant anything in my career and workplace were ENGLISH and MATHS all the other subjects ended up being irrelevant! As for school grades, many top-performing students don't always get the good jobs! Maybe we need to implement better subjects such as life skills, how to run a home, bills, money etc.Never once was I taught how to do a bill sheet or how to organise

[@eightiesmusic1984]

The curriculum could be reformed in various ways but to dismiss most of it out of hand is absurd.

[@kristinamasters1663]

It is true you do noy need most of it for most jobs. You learn on the job. The sad truth is companys do not train people either so unless your face fits and I have found often people who go up the ladder are known by Managers and do not even have to have an interview, and those are the ones who are fast tracked

[@BP-of5cp]

This is definitely a UK issue. In many other countries parents can take their kids on holiday during the school term Education outcomes are the same if not better in some of these countries. I agree that if a kid is due exams the months running up to it should be focused on being prepared for passing those exams and they shouldn't be going on holiday. But what is a 5 year old missing for going on holiday for a week? Making mud pies and finger painting? The regulation needs to be applied with common sense and appropriately by age/school year.

[@jujutrini8412]

They have made it a UK issue. It’s total nonsense. It is when kids go off on their own without their parents’ consent that results in poor educational attainment. It is not when kids are off on holiday with the permission of their parents due to going on holiday with their family. If they go off on holiday for a few days they can easily make up the missed lessons under the supervision of their parents. If kids are visiting grandparents (and extended family) abroad it’s extremely valuable to them and will benefit them for the rest of their lives.

[@BP-of5cp]

@@jujutrini8412 I agree, my nephew in Italy gets to travel 3 to 4 times a year and at 10 years of age has visited at least 15 countries and he's learning his 3rd language, made friends all around the world and he's mature beyond his years. When he gets back home and at school he writes about where he's been and does a little presentation in front of his classmates. What he learns on his travels with his parents is priceless. It's history, geography, languages, culture, food, architecture, art.

[@kristinamasters1663]

They ought to focus on why the children do not want to go or cant go. Sometimes children are picked on by teachers and they are totally unreasonable, and I have witnessed this. My son was struck down with type 1 diabetes aged 11, they had no idea about his illness and if he was ill and couldnt go he was treated as a sciver even though half the time he was in hospital after having a relapse at the begining of his illness. I begged for work for him and got nowhere, if he was ill at school they told him there was nothing wrong with him even days before he first collapsed and was rushed to hospital and nearly died on the way there. When he went back to school I was fast tracked as a bad parent for sticking up for my son. I was threatened with court and prison. I had to work nights and my daughter looked after my son during the day while I slept a few hours while looking for a job herself with her own illness ME and vertigo, which she had from 14 and endeded up bed ridden for a couple of years so ended up out of school. The truth is you only need to have 2 days off and they take off 60% of your attendance. Teachers stressed my son so badly even though he was in some of the top classes I ended up taking him out of school ,they set social workers on me but they ended up on my side. I worked every overtime I could and paid for Maths, English, and science tutors, paid for him to take the exams, and my daughter took him on school outings such as seeing macbeth in stratford upon Avon, my daughter managed to take him wherever he needed to go even tho ill herself. The education authority came out once and said we were doing very well. They are both now wotking.He also went to college. My son is a skilled baker which he enjoys and is always at work. My daughter who had no exams until she passed her maths and English herself, got her first job aged 23 after fighting her illness and had trained as a healthcare assistant in a pharmacy which she enjoys. No help from schools whatsoever. Accept to be put down and made to feel inadequate!

[@aa-fw2pw]

I used to be a school teacher. I quit, and the main reason was the sheer amount of paperwork that needed to be done, solely for the sake of showing Ofsted. This time could have been used to focus more on lesson plans and marking. That was one of the biggest reasons why I left, as it was encroaching my personal life way too much. I also suspect this is one of the reasons why teachers are leaving in droves. I now privately tutor. Much more flexible, better pay, and none of the stress of Ofsted.

[@Sophie-cw7bf]

Good on you I have a huge respect for teachers they practically raise our kids

[@aa-fw2pw]

@@Sophie-cw7bf Thank you, that's so kind of you to say!

[@BP-of5cp]

​@@Sophie-cw7bfwell said. Especially secondary school teachers. 30 hormonal teenagers in one room all day doesn't feel like an appealing job. 😂

[@JamesJohnAgar]

They are not diminishing their future, their are just so many different ways to learn now & second is what they are being taught in schools really relevant to real world scenarios other than Maths/English!

[@anufajemisin4348]

Mmmmmmmmmm.

[@edwardpeasgood2264]

1) Shouldn't there be more focus on the children who are absent 50%+ of the time, not just for a school holiday but because of deep rooted anxiety/family problems/money etc etc? also 2) I agree you shouldn't take your kids out of school during term time, but I think heads should have discretion again for very few circumstances (for example - a child with a terminally ill parent being able to have time out of school for a final family holiday).

[@barcelonachair6487]

Choosing chronic absences for kids early in life teaches them that education and life obligations are not requirements. Just pay a fine and get whatever you want from life. The work ethic is lost on these kids.

[@barbarajones9385]

@barcelonachair I can't believe this panel encouraging parents to take holidays in school term time. Teachers then have to provide extra lessons for the absentees. The kids are always behind. Not OK.

[@barcelonachair6487]

@@barbarajones9385 completely agree! Getting a deal for a holiday is not an excuse or a valuable lesson to teach kids. Why not go every other year and teach them the power of saving for an earned goal? Then in the off year have a few local day trips and spend time as a family.

[@lydiep6814]

Thank you for saying took her life/died by suicide not committed.

[@TRippon2000]

In my school district (Arizona) if a student misses 10 days or more, they have two options: stay after school to make up "seat time" or they have to retake the class. This doesn't apply to students that have a chronic illness.

[@naheedmahmood1120]

I remember when ousted would come to our school the teachers would tell us to be on our good behaviour and after things would go back to normal

[@jamesg8175]

The amount of school holidays are ridiculous

[@0Bharat]

Some classes should be from home or minimum 4 days in a week to attend.

[@JustAnotherPerson4U]

Agreed. If adults are demanding this from work now with some industries cutting the work week, why on earth do we expect a different standard from our children? I hate this model most schools have. Most won't even consider a hybrid model where the children come in some days and work from home others. It's either all in or all out for them.

[@Rammy7696]

If the children are home schooled it’s not a problem. Perhaps more people will school them from home.

[@danielrawlings8355]

Keep children away from schools & read books at home.

[@andrewwalker9830]

Absences should be judged on a case by case basis. If your kid is reaching all their targets, then what is the issue taking them out of school.

[@MarcoPolo-nw6lk]

Just tell the school the child isn't well 🤷‍♀️

[@danielrawlings8355]

Outstanding means incomplete.

[@ABMultimediaDesigner]

No disrespect intended but has government wondered why there is a epidemic in kids not going to school - it's not just the fact that kids can't be bothered going or the parents aren't doing enough - it's because schools don't know how to conduct themselves and putting in BS rules that has no strict bearing on educational values. How many kids who are attending have been denied going into school because of imperfection on their school uniforms or the appearance like their length of hair and so on. I wouldn't be surprised that there's gonna be a turn-away epidemic as well because of how poor schools are and how they operate.

[@danielrawlings8355]

Children. They are children not 'kids'.

[@Antonio-gq6fx]

No one wants to listen to Liebour. They can get lost.

[@jujutrini8412]

Nonsense. I know children who went to Rome, Athens, Egypt etc and had such amazing educational experiences on their holidays. All those kids who did things like that (a few days overlap during school holidays) and they gained great grades in their qualifications. They made up the lessons when they got back to school and had the most interesting stories to tell about what they learned abroad.

[@peeg09]

The Summer holiday I understand & maybe the Birthday. In fact in Primary School you were made feel special by everyone singing Happy Birthday to you.

[@danielrawlings8355]

Seems like the presenters have lost vision similar to the British Government.

[@CandyTre1]

What if you’re sick for a week, you’ll earn less because you missed a few days. It’s ridiculous and manipulative to suggest this to parents

[@SJames2904]

Of course, it makes total sense that one or two days off school impacts the childs development in maths and their future, and yet Labour want to scrap times tables tests! Mind boggled beyond belief.

[@barbarajones9385]

When you've had an Ofsted inspector falling asleep in the classroom during a 'class inspection', you'll find it hard to take the Ofsted inspections nd inspectors seriously. It's a bunch of nonsense to give a one-word judgment on an entire school. The whole shebang is much more complex.

[@gillstreeter9095]

Hmmmmm put the onus back on the parents..... erm the education system is not fit for purpose - but they dont seem to want to sort that - that must be the parents fault too. Just another way to make us poorer and punish us more fines

[@peeg09]

I understand Oasis getting as much money as they can initially. But as long as they continue afterwards reducing prices for people they grew up with.

[@jacobblack369]

Could always make it affordable in school holidays ….👀

[@richardcook1987]

She is so perfect 😍

[@adzm1987]

Can see it now, all the working class will get fined, the upper class jus pay the fine

[@nikki-qm9wz]

Seriously get a grip 😅 they need to make school more interesting They need to start job plans in high school ,bring back work placements .We need to get those not going University. Into jobs work placements full time jobs !!! LETS NOT FORGET SHOPS & BANKS CLOSING USING SELF CHECKOUTS ,HOW DO YOU GET JOB AGAINST A Machine !!! .Teach Consumer and financial maths , how much they need to earn taxes to live a nice life ! If at 18 not in full time work ,They shoukd have to go to work life line places to get any money helps them find and be work ready !!!!!!! SIMPLE

[@M.Sid9.3]

School system needs updating. Less hours. More family time.

[@keirmitchell5560]

how do you do that when parents work

[@jamesg8175]

Less hours? They already have too much holiday

[@ALk-hu5mi]

There are many ways to suceed in life, school felt completely useless to me

[@meganstewart9062]

I remember at my school when offset where planning on coming to the school the teacher would have a talk about we need to be on are best behaviour and this is going to happen it was wrong because the school should of operated as normal so that it was a fare and onest review.But there is some amazing schools out there and some bad but that is life.

[@sakhter4044]

We need better and simpler curriculum thats with the times of now kids dont even know the basic kids do not need to learn algebra etc alot of stuff is useless the summer holidays need cutting down. The schools need more support class numbers are too high lots of kids dont speak english are from other places or have extra needs but all being rammed together. The education system needs a over haul the teachers should have a say and the government needs to listen and change or upgrade the system.

[@keldsleepnot7961]

Most of the maths you learn is of no use whatsoever to most people once you leave school. So I find it extremely hard to believe that missing a few hours of lessons is going to affect your life as much as is claimed here.

[@Sophie-cw7bf]

This is crazy teach the kids something they can use in life not unnecessary things

[@Simon37423]

But who’s going to teach them how privileged and bad white people are ? Who’s going to teach young boys about toxic masculinity ? 🙃

[@eightiesmusic1984]

Typical anti learning comment.

[@Sophie-cw7bf]

Plus kids have to many school holidays

[@J-S.I]

Stick ur math , who cares

[@prideofdurham4776]

Not absent kids but absent teachers for 12 weeks of the year! Work is 40 hours a week so schools should be 8 until 5 with two 15 minute breaks and 30 minutes for lunch 5 days a week , with two weeks holiday for Summer and one week at Xmas .

[@Simon37423]

I don’t think the streets are safe enough for kids traveling home at night everyday during the winter months. I think these kids just need some discipline in there lives kids weren’t struggling before like they do now

[@eightiesmusic1984]

Nonsense. School holidays in some other countries are much longer. Same for private schools in the UK.