Secondary school attendance in island is lower than in UK

Attendance is also proving to be an issue for older children, with 86% attendance recorded at secondary schools.

This is lower than the UK, where there is 8.1% absence in state-funded secondary schools.

Figures are better for local primary schools at 94.7%.

The Education, Sport & Culture Committee is keen to bring them back up to pre-Covid levels of 95%, and the report states the situation has been improving in all settings, but none had yet reached that milestone.

‘Evidence suggests that small improvements in attendance can lead to improved outcomes, both academically and socially,’ the report said.

In the classroom, reading ability in Years 6 and 9 were significantly above the national level, while in Year 3 it was comparable with the UK average.

Maths in Year 3 was also similar to the UK average, but maths skills appear to deteriorate as children get older, with both of the other older groups significantly below the UK average.

That led to maths results in Guernsey at GCSE being well below the UK, with 52% of States pupils gaining a passing grade of four or better.

This compares to a UK average of 59%. Just two schools – Les Beaucamps and St Anne’s in Alderney – managed to reach that level.

The picture was reversed for English at GCSE, with 69% scoring a four or above in English language at States schools, compared to the UK’s average of 61%.

All four high school beat the UK level.

The report noted that English levels had improved, but added there would be a continued focus on numeracy at all key stages in a bid to improve GCSE results.

Another part of the report looked at early years. In recent years 99% of children have been accessing pre-school education. But this dropped to 92% last year.

There has also been a drop in the percentage of children achieving a good level of development at the end of the early years foundation stage.

Improving both of these is now one of education’s priorities.

There have been some issues in recruiting teaching staff in recent times. But the report noted that the first group of teachers from the new on-island initial teacher training programme had now started teaching in local schools.

And it was a good year for Ofsted reports, with all settings inspected receiving a good in every area.

Education, Sport & Culture president Andrea Dudley-Owen said it had been a busy year, with the introduction of new governance boards and work starting on the new Les Ozouets post-16 campus.

‘As we look to the future, we’re committed to continuous improvement and are aspiring for excellence, underpinned by a dedication to unlock the potential of all our students,’ she said.

Director of Education Nick Hynes said that during 2024 there had been significant progress, with rising literacy levels and positive Ofsted inspections.

‘Our focus remains on delivering high-quality, inclusive education that is fit for purpose in our ever-changing world,’ he said.

‘Education is a shared responsibility, and by working together, we are working to secure a bright future for all children, young people and learners more generally.’