Assembly resources

Attendance Matters

A complete attendance assembly for Heads of Year, with slides, script notes, video suggestions and tutor time reflection.

Year group: KS3 and KS4 (deliver separately if possible, separate adaptation notes below) Best delivered: After the first data drop, when figures are dipping, or as a September baseline-setter Duration: 10 minutes Tone: Honest and direct, never threatening, never guilt-tripping, always human Script notes Opening, start with the maths, not the rules (Slides 1 and 2, 2.5 minutes) Don't open with a warning.

Don't open with consequences.

Open with a fact that makes people think.

Show Slide 1, the percentage table.

Let it sit for a moment before you speak. "I want you to look at this.

Not because I want to scare you.

But because I think you deserve to understand what these numbers actually mean." Then point out the number that almost always surprises students: 90%. "Most people looking at that table think 90% is fine.

It sounds like an A.

Let's be clear about what it actually is." Move to Slide 2. "One day off a fortnight.

That's all.

That's what gets you to 90%.

And over a school year, that one day a fortnight is nineteen days of school you weren't there for.

Nineteen days of lessons, conversations, explanations, moments, gone." "I'm not saying that to make anyone feel bad.

I'm saying it because I think you should see it clearly." Why it actually matters (Slide 3, 2.5 minutes) Three reasons.

Be honest about each one.

Don't dress them up.

First: the learning.

This is the obvious one, but say it plainly rather than generically. "When you're not here, you miss the explanation that everything else in that topic builds on.