An evaluation of reports on the attendance of pupils in out‐of‐school provision

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse and evaluate Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) reports on attendance issues within local education authorities' out‐of‐school provision.Design/methodology/approachA full cohort of Ofsted reports on inspections of out‐of‐school units, often known as pupil referral units (PRUs), undertaken in England in 2003 were scrutinised. The attendance data were then analysed statistically and geographically by region. The regions designated were the north of England, London and the Home Counties, the Midlands and the rest of England.FindingsThe findings indicate that unauthorised absence rates in PRUs are more than ten times those reported for primary and secondary schools and for local education authorities (LEAs). Overall, unauthorised absence rates exceed authorised rates throughout a majority of PRUs inspected in England in 2003; the exact opposite to schools. There are considerable variations in rates of authorised and unauthorised absence between PRUs within the same regions and within some LEAs.Practical implicationsOfsted appear to give more latitude towards attendance issues within PRUs than they do in their inspection reports for schools and LEAs. The implications of these findings are considered along with the need for further research.Originality/valueThis is the first article of its kind to analyse and evaluate the implications of Ofsted reports on attendance issues within LEAs out‐of‐school units.