**Welsh School Leaders Call for More Parental Fines to Tackle Widespread Attendance Crisis**
Senior figures in education across Wales are urging tougher action on parents whose children display persistent absenteeism, arguing that the current approach is failing to address what has become a grave, nationwide concern. School leaders, backed by a recent Estyn report, believe the use of fines could play a crucial part in reversing a downward spiral in school attendance figures—a trend exacerbated by the pandemic and showing no signs of rapid improvement.
The latest report from Estyn, the independent inspectorate for education and training in Wales, paints a concerning picture. It reveals that, on average, secondary school pupils are now missing about one day every fortnight—a significant increase compared with pre-pandemic levels. The data, collated from 41 schools and all 22 local authorities, states that secondary student absenteeism has more than doubled in recent years, with some of the most concerning rates among children from lower-income families.
The figures are particularly stark among pupils eligible for free school meals, a cohort traditionally more vulnerable to educational disadvantage. In the academic year 2022-23, 35.6% of these pupils were persistently absent, compared to 11.2% of their peers not eligible for free meals. The gap demonstrates that socioeconomic factors are still having a profound impact on a child’s ability to access consistent education in Wales.
Overall, attendance across Welsh secondary schools has dropped by 6.3 percentage points since 2018-19. Even within this broad statistic, there is notable variation between schools: while some have managed to keep attendance declines in check, others report drops of nearly 18 percentage points. Year 11, a pivotal time for GCSE candidates, is particularly affected, with more than one in five missing at least 10% of sessions.
Estyn chief, Owen Evans, highlighted in his report that absent pupils are not just missing out academically. Research links regular school absences to lower achievement, anti-social behaviour, and other negative outcomes, underscoring the urgency of the situation. He also voiced concerns about the patchy quality of support from local authorities. A lack of reliable and detailed attendance data from the Welsh Government only makes it harder for schools to pinpoint and address the specific issues affecting their pupils.
Another pressing factor complicating attendance is transport. For secondary students from low-income households living just outside the boundary for free school transport, getting to school can be a daily struggle. This logistical hurdle, according to Estyn, is putting some of the most disadvantaged children at even greater risk of falling behind.
Some schools, however, are trying innovative approaches to address these challenges. Pontarddulais Comprehensive School, for example, has established a support team dedicated to identifying and assisting students at risk of persistent absence—offering targeted help ranging from mentoring to parental engagement and home visits. Similarly, Cefn Hengoed Community School has tackled transport costs for those outside the catchment for free travel by introducing a subsidised bus fare, reducing barriers for pupils who would otherwise face daunting commutes in adverse conditions.
Yet, according to school leaders, these efforts remain undermined by inconsistent local authority policies on parental fines. Some areas have shied away from issuing fixed penalty notices, which leaders claim weakens their leverage with families who may otherwise disregard the importance of daily attendance. The report argues that without tougher enforcement, it will take more than a decade for attendance levels to return to where they were before the pandemic.
Estyn is now calling for a broader, nationwide strategy involving the Welsh Government and a clearer, unified approach from local authorities. Recommendations include stronger data collection and sharing, higher expectations set for attendance, and a national campaign to raise awareness about the importance of regular school attendance.
In response, a Welsh Government spokesperson confirmed that improving attendance remains a top priority. They noted a slight uptick in attendance rates this year and highlighted ongoing investments in family engagement officers and community-based schooling initiatives designed to forge stronger connections between schools, families, and the communities they serve.
The challenge facing schools in Wales is complex, deeply rooted, and intertwined with broader social and economic factors. For many in the education sector, implementing tougher measures against non-compliant parents is seen as one necessary step, but few believe it will be a silver bullet. Instead, they say, what’s needed is an integrated effort that acknowledges the complexity behind school absence and draws on resources from all corners of society.