Schools across Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust have achieved the Inclusive Attendance Bronze Award, recognising their progress in developing inclusive attendance practices and strengthening support systems for students and families.
The awards were presented during the Trust’s Inclusive Attendance Conference, held at the new Shireland Training Centre in Oldbury. The event brought together academy leaders and attendance teams to celebrate progress made during the first year of the programme and prepare for the next stage of development.
The Inclusive Attendance Standard is a professional development programme designed to help schools create a culture where attendance is understood as a shared responsibility across the whole school community.
During the conference, staff reviewed national attendance data and emerging trends, using these insights to evaluate current strategies and identify opportunities to further strengthen practice across the Trust.
Sessions explored the Bronze foundations of the programme, including strengthening existing systems, developing shared understanding and embedding a culture where all staff recognise their role in supporting positive attendance. Senior leaders also reflected on the impact of current work and assessed their readiness for the next stage of the programme, where academies will work towards the Silver award.
The conference concluded with the presentation of the Inclusive Attendance Bronze Awards, celebrating the work of academies in removing barriers to attendance, improving engagement and supporting students through inclusive, evidence-informed approaches.
Regular attendance plays a vital role in helping children and young people access learning, develop positive relationships and feel connected to their school community. Through a shared approach to attendance, academies are able to identify barriers earlier, work more effectively with families and ensure support is focused on individual needs.
A spokesperson at Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust said: “Attendance is one of the strongest foundations for a child’s success, providing access to learning, relationships and experiences that shape their future. However, improving attendance requires us to understand the reasons behind absence and respond with the right support.
“The Inclusive Attendance programme has helped our academies develop a consistent, evidence-informed approach that places pupils and families at the centre of decision-making. The Bronze Award recognises the strong foundations that have been established, but the real measure of success will be the positive difference this work makes to the experiences and outcomes of our children and young people. As we move towards the Silver Award, we will continue working collaboratively across the Trust to strengthen practice, share expertise and ensure every pupil feels a sense of belonging and connection within their school.”
The Bronze Award is the first stage of the Inclusive Attendance Standard Programme and recognises schools that have demonstrated clear evidence of inclusive attendance practice through professional development, implementation and assessment.
