MKCF - Vital Signs Digital brochure FINAL - Flipbook - Page 23
Schools
There is an increasing problem with
school attendance, which has
declined from 2018/19 levels
both nationally and in MK.
26% of secondary
school pupils in
MK missed 10%
of school sessions
in 2023, which is
double the rate
of 2018/19.
Those who have the highest
rate of absence tend to be from the
most deprived backgrounds, with multiple
learning di昀케culties, physical disabilities,
and social and mental health needs.
In some cases, parental mental
health was also a barrier to
pupils’ attendance. Other
reasons identi昀椀ed for
school absence were
disengagement with the
curriculum especially
around traditional
academic subjects.
School children from families
eligible for Free School Meals in
MK score on average 34.1 at Grade
8 (grade A/A*), the lowest score of
any group, and lower than the average for
England (34.8).
Research from the Centre for Social Justice
found that anxiety was the biggest driver
behind increases in absence and some
of those who previously attended school
regularly had, since the COVID-19 pandemic,
become extremely anxious.
The number of Supplementary
Schools continue to rise in Milton
Keynes, o昀昀ering “catchup” programmes
for students from ethnically diverse
or religious backgrounds.
Progressing to university
Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are
less likely to progress into higher education, while
49.3% of the cohort from families who are not eligible
for Free School Meals go on to university, a similar rate
to the average for England.
The proportion of students in Milton Keynes
going to university from families
eligible for Free School Meals is lower
at 28.4%, compared with 29.2% on
average for England.
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