Working with the National Strategies behaviour and attendance team from 2005 to 2011 gave me the wonderful opportunity of meeting and working alongside some very dedicated professionals in schools, local authorities (LAs), the department for education (DfE) as well as within the National Strategies. During this time I was able to both enhance and develop the knowledge and skills that I had acquired whilst working in two local authorities; managing their attendance services.
It is my belief that the work of the behaviour and attendance team over this period actively supported the improved outcomes, in relation to attendance, that were achieved by schools and LAs. For example, secondary overall absence in 2005/06 was at 8.24% and primary at 5.76%, but by 2008/09 secondary overall absence was down to 7.25% and primary down to 5.30%. We also saw significant reductions in the secondary rates for persistent absentees which fell from 7.1% in 2005/06 to 5.0% in 2008/09.
The economic climate which in part led to the termination of the National Strategies contract with the DfE has now presented me with exciting new opportunities. I intend to continue offering my support to schools and local authorities through a new firm which I have established. For more information on this new venture and to contact me, please use the attached link.
Finally, I would like to publically express my thanks to all those colleagues with whom I have had the privilege to work. It has been a true pleasure and I hope that we might have an opportunity to meet up again soon.