The Department has conducted research into the causes of absence from school in order to fully understand the issues surrounding non-attendance.
- Absence from school: A study of its causes and effects in seven LAs - This 2003 report presents results from a 12-month study of absence from school. The study explored the views of younger pupils, parents, teachers, and others working closely with pupils about the causes of absence, the roles parents play in non-attendance, and the measures taken by LEAs and schools to reduce absence levels.
- Analysis of pupil attendance data in Excellence in Cities (EiC) areas: Interim report - This 2004 research report provides analysis of pupil-level data that was collected for the national evaluation of EiC. It includes the authorised and unauthorised absence of children in Years 7-10 in 343 schools.
- Parents' and carers' attitudes towards school attendance - This report presents the findings of a study of parents' and carers' attitudes towards pupil attendance at school. The study was carried out by TNS Social Research between September 2003 and June 2004. The main aim of this study was to examine the attitudes of parents and carers towards pupil attendance, with particular emphasis on determining how the attitudes of parents and carers whose children are persistent poor attendees differ from those of parents/carers whose children have rarely or never missed school.
