Schools in the Bridgend borough area have seen a drop in pupil attendance this year. An increase in permanent and fixed-term exclusions has also been recorded – with pupil behaviour becoming an increasing concern for schools and for the local authority.
A report heard by a Bridgend County Borough Council scrutiny committee this month was given to councillors to explain how the education and family support directorate is responding to issues related to pupil attendance, exclusions, and health and safeguarding. It described how, following the Covid-19 pandemic, this school year had been the first for more than two academic years where schools in the borough had remained open for the entirety of the year.
It also showed figures that indicated the attendance rate for secondary schools in the borough had dropped to 86.5% in the 2021-22 school year, down from 94.1% in 2018-19. In primary education a similar drop had occurred with figures showing a 90.1% attendance rate in 2021-22 compared to that of a 94.8% in 2018-19.
