Today marks an important achievement for countless young people across the nation as they receive their GCSE results. It’s a moment to celebrate not only their grades but also their dedication and perseverance at school.
We know it hasn’t been easy for them. Families have experienced unprecedented challenges – from the pandemic to the cost of living crisis – this cohort has shown exceptional strength and resilience during their education journey.
A special shout out to the families, young people and School-Home Support Practitioners who worked together to improve attendance. We know attendance is closely linked to attainment which in turn opens the door to improved life chances including better earnings.
Going through the GCSE can put a lot of pressure on young people, particularly when they have other things to worry about – such as family money worries or housing problems – which is why access to family support around schools is critical. School-Home Support research shows that poor housing is a growing barrier to good school attendance. We saw a 73% increase in young people citing housing problems as a key barrier to going to school.
When children are safe and happy at schools and have the support they need, they can flourish personally and academically. But sadly too many families still aren’t getting the support they need to tackle barriers to school . Schools do their best, but they aren’t funded to give families the sort of nuance they sometimes need. See here for our Dig a Little Deeper campaign calling for more funding for whole family support for the 1.7 million children who are currently missing weeks, months or even years of learning.
In the academic year 2022-23, 62% of the the Young People we supported in KS4 improved their attendance an average of 14.2% over 8 months of support. Our tailored programmes, including mentoring, Post 16 preparation, revision skills work, and mental health support, have proven to be instrumental in fostering an environment conducive to academic growth and personal development.