Bury Schools Attendance on the Rise: Positive Results and National Recognition

School attendance figures in Bury improved faster than the national average during 2024/25. Recent figures show a 0.4% reduction in overall absences compared to 2023/24, and early figures for the current academic year indicate a continuing upward trend, with overall attendance up by 0.27% compared to the same period last year.

Attendance has been a significant challenge nationally since the COVID-19 pandemic, with absence rates rising sharply and impacting vulnerable pupils the most. The recent upward trend in Bury’s attendance figures is a welcome sign, reflecting the hard work and effective collaboration between schools, families, and the council to overcome these persistent issues.

Bury has also successfully reversed the national trend of declining female attendance, making important progress towards educational equality. The borough saw attendance figures among girls rise by 0.5% last academic year, outpacing the 0.3% rise for boys and narrowing the gender gap to just 0.1% representing a meaningful step in ensuring all pupils have fair access to learning.

Cllr Lucy Smith, Bury Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "Improving school attendance is about creating a fair and supportive environment where every child can thrive. Our progress in narrowing the attendance gap between girls and boys is encouraging, reflecting our commitment to equality and inclusion. We will keep building on this solid foundation to ensure all children in Bury have the support they need to attend school regularly and succeed."

The improved figures are due to strong partnerships and implementing forward-thinking initiatives across the borough, with targeted interventions and collaborative efforts between the schools, families and the local authority.

Bury Council’s innovative approach was recently recognised by the Department for Education (DfE) and included as an example of best practice in its national attendance toolkit. The DfE specifically commended Bury’s Secondary Attendance Clinics and the council’s commitment to listening to pupils’ voices to understand barriers to attendance.

While progress is encouraging, there are still areas where continued focus is ongoing to ensure every pupil is supported.

Persistent absence remains a priority for Bury, representing 17.4% of enrolments during the autumn and spring terms - marginally below the national average of 17.6%. Absence rates for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including those with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) are at 10.5%, and while this is slightly above the national average of 10.3%, it represents a 0.2% improvement from the previous year’s rate of 10.7%, showing encouraging progress in supporting attendance among vulnerable learners.

Ben Dunne, Director of Early Years, Education and Skills, said: "This is a fantastic achievement for Bury—seeing attendance rise faster than the national average and being recognised by the Department for Education is a testament to the dedication, innovation, and collaborative spirit of our schools, families, and the Bury attendance team.

“Working in close partnership with our family of Bury schools will be at the heart of continuing this positive trend moving forward”