Leadership and Attendance: How NEAT’s Benfield School is Making a Difference
At NEAT Academy Trust, we understand that school attendance is crucial for student success, and effective leadership plays a key role in achieving this goal. This month, we’re spotlighting an insightful article co-authored by Judy Waddle, Deputy Director at Newcastle Research School, and Rebecca Whillis, Deputy Headteacher for Behaviour and Attitudes at Benfield School, which explores a school’s approach to boosting attendance through strong leadership and a collaborative approach.
A Student-Centred Approach to Attendance
Benfield School, located in central Newcastle upon Tyne, has attendance levels below the national average, with 61% of its students eligible for pupil premium. Recognising that understanding each student’s unique situation is essential, Benfield’s leaders have prioritised building strong relationships with pupils and their families to address attendance issues early on. By focusing on understanding students’ challenges and their needs, leaders have developed a more personalised approach to attendance.
Creating a Culture of Responsibility and Support
Central to Benfield’s strategy is establishing a climate of collective responsibility, where everyone—from school leaders to staff—contributes to improving attendance. The introduction of an “Attendance Champion” role, alongside targeted training and support, reinforces this shared commitment.
Benfield’s Middle Leadership team has also fostered a school environment where staff, pupils, and parents work together. This sense of trust helps maintain high expectations for attendance while creating a supportive, non-threatening atmosphere that encourages students to attend regularly.
The Power of Data-Driven Leadership
Benfield’s leaders use data strategically to identify students who may be at risk of poor attendance and to guide decisions on how best to support them. By implementing structured routines, like their “Golden Hour” focus on attendance in the first hour of each day, Benfield keeps attendance a top priority.
Looking Ahead
Through strong leadership and a collective approach, Benfield School is seeing real progress. By staying committed to knowing their community and engaging with the latest evidence, Benfield is paving the way for students to succeed by making regular attendance the norm.
Get Involved
For more insights on effective leadership strategies to support school attendance, check out the full article by Judy Waddle and Rebecca Whillis on the Newcastle Research School website. Together, let’s continue to build a positive, supportive school environment for all our students.
👉 Read the Full Article HERE
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