Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has issued an urgent warning to parents as the World Cup kicks off, fearing a surge in truancy. The tournament, hosted in Mexico, Canada, and the United States, features late-night matches for UK fans, including Scotland vs Haiti at 2am on June 14. Phillipson pleaded with parents to ensure children attend school as normal, amid concerns that absences could worsen a troubling trend of taking days off for special events.
Writing exclusively for the Express, Phillipson acknowledged the dilemma parents face: "Children will be desperate to see every minute, and I know parents will face a dilemma. Do I let them stay up? And if they're tired the next morning, does one day off school really matter?" She stressed that while bedtimes are not her remit, she asks only that children be in school the next day.
Impact of Absences
Phillipson warned that missing lessons can have a significant impact on a child's education. "New government analysis suggests those seemingly small decisions may be having a bigger impact than many realise. These days 'here and there' add up, and the impact is rarely felt by just one child: helping them catch up can delay learning for the whole class." Children who miss school are far more likely to leave without qualifications, she added.
Social Skills at Risk
The Education Secretary also highlighted the importance of school for social development. "In the age of scrolling and smartphones, it remains one of the few places where children come together every day, build real relationships and develop the social skills that will shape the rest of their lives."
Persistent Absence Rates
Official figures show that school absence rates shot up after the pandemic and have not returned to normal. Last year, 1.34 million pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one in ten lessons. This represents 18.14% of all pupils, down from 19.95% the previous year but still significantly higher than the pre-pandemic rate of 10.86% in 2018-19.
Guidance for Schools
The Department for Education has issued a guide for schools on how to speak to parents, suggesting that highlighting the social benefits of school can be more effective than focusing on academic benefits. Heads are encouraged to remind parents of NHS guidance that children with mild cold symptoms can attend school unless they have a high temperature. Schools are also being provided with new online tools to track absences.
