United for change: tackling post-pandemic attendance challenges

A transformative collaboration has taken shape in North East Lincolnshire, uniting influential educational leaders to tackle the greatest challenges our pupils face today. As a member of the regional Systems Leaders Group, I’m proud to represent Oasis at the heart of this unique partnership. 

Our first joint venture addresses the critical pupil attendance crisis left by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since closing the nation’s schools five years ago, the pandemic has resulted in approximately 32 million days of lost learning. During the 2023/24 academic year, approximately 1.4 million children missed at least 10% of school, with 140,000 missing more than half the year. Notably, children eligible for free school meals were more than twice as likely to be absent compared to their peers. 

With a clear goal, the Systems Leaders Group recently gathered for the first time at the North East Lincolnshire Attendance Conference. Funded by the group to ensure free access for all institutions in the county, the conference brought together nearly 200 professionals from many agencies and partners including education, Health and Social Care to address the attendance crisis, showcasing remarkable regional collaboration in action. 

The event featured insights from national experts, including keynote speaker Baroness Anne Longfield, former Children’s Commissioner for England and Founder of the Centre for Young Lives, and Alison Wilson OBE from the Department for Education. Both stressed the further support needed to prevent our most vulnerable children from falling through the cracks, particularly those with mental health challenges and those living in poverty. 

During her speech, Baroness Longfield rightly emphasised that "nobody will solve the issues working on their own". Oasis is proud to work closely with Baroness Longfield as part of the Commission on Young Lives, which works to prevent crises in vulnerable young people and support them to succeed in life. 

We know that often it’s marginalised young people, at risk of violence, harm, and criminalisation, who disconnect and withdraw from school. The Commission plays a fundamental role in proposing new national systems to support our most vulnerable students, helping them to see school as a place where they can flourish. 

Also sharing valuable insights in their breakout session were Matt Foster, Deputy Principal and Inclusion Lead at Oasis Academy Aspinal in Manchester, and Chris Clements, Senior National Leader for Attendance at Oasis Academy Blakenhale in Birmingham. Both leaders revealed how they work to drive attendance improvement across their academies and through The Oasis Way, acting as true testaments to Oasis’ ongoing commitment to improving outcomes for every learner, regardless of their background. 

With the pandemic leaving Oasis Academy Aspinal with significant pupil attendance challenges, Matt and his team sought external help from national education charity, School-Home Support. Providing the school with dedicated case workers to engage with families facing severe hardships, the charity supported Oasis Aspinal’s increased pupil attendance and improved community relationships. This collaboration reflects the broader value of wrap-around support, especially amidst limited local authority resources and rising challenges for families. 

Committed to creating lasting change, the Systems Leaders Group has agreed to launch an attendance charter, enabling the sector to learn from successful case studies within the region and beyond. As we look back on the last five years in education, we’re even more driven to tackle the echoing challenges of attendance, including behaviour and exclusions. 

At Oasis we’re proud to lead the way in shaping positive outcomes for all students. In collaboration with the Systems Leaders Group, we’re dedicated to driving transformative change across our academies and the wider sector. Together, we are laying the foundation for a brighter future in education, ensuring every child has the opportunity to shine. 

Heidi Stennett – Regional Director (Secondary), North East