There has been an increase in school attendance and a decrease in exclusion for primary and secondary schools in Caerphilly County Borough, new figures have revealed.
The total secondary attendance figure of 91.7% in 2011/12 records an overall 1% increase, compared to the 0.2% increase the previous academic year. Primary attendance figures in 2011/12 also increased from 92.8% to 93.2% with 54 schools recording an improvement.
All 14 secondary schools matched or exceeded their attendance from the previous year, led by Risca Comprehensive with an attendance rate of 92.89%, and 10 of those schools matched or exceeded the Local Authority target of 91.7%.
Figures also indicate that there was a significant decrease in permanent and fixed term exclusions as well as the number of days lost due to all exclusions between 2010/11 and 2011/12.
Cllr Rhianon Passmore, cabinet member for education, said: “Improving attendance and reducing exclusions remain priorities for our local authority.
“It is vital that all children and young people gain maximum benefit from their education by regular attendance, regardless of individual or family characteristics. By engaging and supporting pupils fully within our educational system, we can help to reduce the likelihood of young people drifting into anti-social and criminal behaviour.”
The total number of permanent exclusions decreased from three to none, and fixed-term exclusions from 230 to 201 at primary level, whilst permanent exclusions decreased from 13 to five, and fixed term exclusions from 1,010 to 735 at secondary.
Caerphilly County Borough Council has admitted exclusion figures are high, particularly at primary level, and has said it is committed to improving them.
Targeted support provided to The Twyn Primary School has resulted in an 83% decrease in the number of days lost to exclusions in 2011/12 (15.5 days) compared with 81 days in 2010/11. Bedwas High School experienced a decrease of 74.19% from 445.5 days to 115 days lost in 2011/12.