| Foreword |
| |
| This is the
sixth year in which Attendance and Absence in Scottish
Schools has been published. It is one in a series of four
reports, the others covering examination results, school
costs and leaver destinations. Attendance and Absence
in Scottish Schools 1995/96 to 1997/98 makes publicly
available information at individual schools level, by
education authority and across the country as a whole. |
| |
| This report
contains information about the last three school
sessions. Circulars 8/94, 1/95 and 10/95 have provided
for greater consistency in the way absence is categorised
by schools and education authorities. As a result,
information available for inclusion in this report should
be comparable for different authorities. However, some
inconsistencies in the way that data have been recorded
are noted at appropriate points in the report. |
| |
| As part of
the Government's initiative on setting targets and
raising standards at national level, a target has been
set to minimise levels of absence. Within that overall
objective, schools and education authorities should set
themselves detailed targets and develop strategies for
improving attendance. The Government will continue to
assess data collected nationally on attendance and
absence and publish information in broadly the same way
as at present. |
| |
| Links
between attendance and individual attainment are well
recognised. Absence, for whatever reason, must be kept to
a minimum if pupils are to profit from their time at
school and succeed in examinations. Everyone involved in
education, but particularly schools and parents, must
play their part in ensuring the highest possible levels
of attendance. |
| |
| Douglas A
Osler |
| HM Senior
Chief Inspector of Schools |
| January 1999 |
| |
