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Western Telegraph
2 days ago
- General
- Western Telegraph
Number of children in England missing school for prolonged periods has risen
Department for Education (DfE) data indicates that 2.04% of pupils were 'severely absent' in autumn 2024, up from 1.97% in autumn 2023. It is the highest rate for an autumn term since current data began in 2016/17. Overall, 147,605 pupils were classed as severely absent, which means they missed at least 50% of possible school sessions, in the autumn term of 2024/25, compared to 142,487 in the autumn term of 2023/24. In the autumn of 2019, the term before the pandemic, only 0.86% of pupils (60,244) were severely absent. It is troubling that, even as absence rates are coming down overall, the percentage of pupils missing at least 50% of their education is rising Margaret Mulholland, ASCL The data also suggests 17.79% of pupils in England, about 1.28 million young people, were 'persistently absent', missing at least 10% of school sessions, in the autumn term of 2024/25. This is down on the same period in 2023/24 when 19.44% of pupils were persistently absent, but it is still higher than the pre-pandemic autumn of 2019 (13.14%). The former Conservative government announced plans to increase fines for parents who take their children out of class without permission, in February last year, as part of a drive to boost attendance since the pandemic. In September, school absence fines in England rose from £60 to £80, and a parent who receives a second fine for the same child within a three-year period will now receive a £160 fine. The latest figures show the overall unauthorised holiday rate in autumn 2024 was 0.47%, broadly unchanged from 2023 despite the increased fines, though the exact data indicates a very slight fall from 0.474% to 0.466%. An analysis by the PA news agency found the unauthorised holiday rates in the autumn were down in most regions across England compared to the same period last year, apart from the North West, East and South East, where they reached a record high at 0.59%, 0.39% and 0.38% respectively. Separate figures released by the DfE on Thursday showed that more than one in nine (11.6%) pupils in England were absent on the last day of this academic year (July 18), with 6.3% on unauthorised absence. These were the highest figures for any day in the entire 2024/25 school year, but they are lower than the equivalent figures for the last day of the 2023/24 school year (12.7% and 7.0% respectively), PA analysis shows. Overall, the pupil absence rate across the 2024/25 academic year was 6.9%, down from 7.2% last year. The record improvement in school attendance shows we are turning the tide on a crisis that saw a generation go missing from England's schools Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson Margaret Mulholland, Send and inclusion specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: 'It is troubling that, even as absence rates are coming down overall, the percentage of pupils missing at least 50% of their education is rising. 'We need to focus on helping these pupils overcome the barriers preventing them from being in school on a regular basis. 'This means investing in attendance services, liaising directly with families to identify the issues at play and then ensuring specialist support is available as soon as required. 'We've got to do more to ensure these pupils receive a complete education and all the benefits this brings.' Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'Overall, these figures are another small step in the right direction. 'It is clear however that there is still a long way to go to improve pupil attendance and that significant barriers remain for some children who missed a majority of their school sessions during the autumn term. 'Schools work tirelessly to ensure children are in the classroom, but they alone are not equipped to address all the deep-seated reasons for absence which can range from routine sickness to mental ill-health and social challenges facing children and families, including poverty. 'Fining parents is a crude tool which does not address many of the root causes, what is needed is better support for families and schools.' Beth Prescott, education lead at the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), said: 'Five years on from school closures, classroom absences can no longer be viewed as a post-pandemic blip. 'The material risk now is that this issue is becoming deeply entrenched.' She added: 'Ministers must now build on the progress they have made and work with local charities and families to provide more absent pupils with the mentorship they need to return to school. 'But with the crisis deepening we need to attack the root causes of school absence, including softening parental attitudes to attendance and an education system that fails to engage thousands of young people.' Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: 'The record improvement in school attendance shows we are turning the tide on a crisis that saw a generation go missing from England's schools. 'Getting children back in classrooms, where they belong, is non-negotiable if we are to break the unfair link between background and success so we can build a fairer country, a cornerstone of our plan for change. 'When we tackle attendance head-on, everyone benefits – pupils get the consistent education they deserve, teachers can focus on driving up standards, and we build the stronger workforce our economy needs.'
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Court shuts Ajmer's Rs 243 crore bridge inaugurated days ago
Ramsetu bridge suffered structural damage after the first rainfall since its construction AJMER: In a damning indictment of public infrastructure management, the Ajmer Judicial Magistrate Court Number-2 on Wednesday ordered to immediately close the newly inaugurated Ramsetu bridge that suffered structural damage last week after the first rainfall since its construction. Rajasthan's Rs 243 crore project, meant to be a symbol of urban development, now stands as a monument to alleged administrative negligence and questionable construction practices. Judge Manmohan Chandel passed the order while treating a joint suit filed by two residents as a PIL. The court has directed both the Ajmer Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the Ajmer Smart City Ltd (ASCL) to submit their responses by July 11. The suit was filed on July 5, after which court issued notices to the district collector, AMC and ASCL. None of the respondents appeared on July 8 leading to a subsequent hearing on July 9. The closure order came on Wednesday despite the corporation's assertion that it had blocked one of the four roads on the elevated stretch. The court noted that since the same material was used in the bridge's construction, the entire structure posed a safety risk. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bogotá: IA: gana hasta $2,700 a la semana trabajando desde casa Gran oportunidad Registro Undo The court's decision came after shocking revelations that the bridge, operational for merely days, showed significant structural deterioration following the season's first heavy rainfall on July 3. More alarmingly, court proceedings revealed the project proceeded without expert consultation, and relied instead on decisions made by a local citizens' forum. The pressing question that people are now grappling with is: How did a multi-crore infrastructure project fail so spectacularly, and who will be held responsible?
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Government told to fully fund teacher pay rise to prevent school provision cuts
The Government must fully fund the pay rise for teachers in England to prevent cuts to pupil support, activities and staffing, unions have urged. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has been warned that investment in improving school staff's pay and conditions is 'vital' to tackling the teacher recruitment and retention crisis. In May, the Government accepted the recommendations of the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB) to boost the salaries of teachers and school leaders in England by 4% from September. Ms Phillipson said schools would receive an additional £615 million of funding this financial year to help cover most of the costs of increased pay awards. But she said schools would have to find around 1% of the pay awards themselves 'through improved productivity and smarter spending'. In a joint response to Ms Phillipson, four education unions have set out their 'united view' on the need for the Government to provide additional investment to fully fund the pay increase for the next academic year. The National Education Union (NEU), the NAHT school leaders' union, the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and Community said: 'Investing in the improvements needed to teacher and school leader pay and conditions is vital to tackling the recruitment and retention crisis. 'In the interests not only of teachers and school leaders but of parents, pupils and the wider economy, we need a major pay correction to reverse the real terms pay cuts and repair the competitiveness of pay.' Paul Whiteman, general secretary at NAHT, said financial pressures on schools mean that finding the money for a pay uplift for school leaders and teachers 'is becoming more difficult.' He said: 'Any so-called easy savings have long since been achieved after years of under-investment under previous governments, so the Government must avoid creating a false trade-off between professionals' pay and reductions in support for pupils, curriculum resources and activities. 'Ensuring schools have the dedicated teachers and leaders they need requires sustained Government investment to properly fund further above-inflation pay rises – as well as action to tackle intolerable levels of workload, support flexible working, and implement more far-reaching reform of damaging high-stakes Ofsted inspections.' Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the ASCL, said: 'We urge the Government to provide the funding in full that is needed to cover the cost of the 2025-26 pay award, as the partial funding provided leaves many schools having to make cuts to bridge this shortfall. 'This means reductions in staffing, which has a knock-on effect on the workloads of remaining staff, which in turn affects retention. 'It is a vicious cycle which we must break. This can only be done by ensuring that pay awards are both sufficient and fully funded.' In April, both teaching unions – the NEU and the NASUWT – threatened to take strike action if schools did not get extra funding to pay for salary increases for teachers. It came after the Department for Education (DfE) previously suggested in its written evidence to the STRB in December that a 2.8% pay rise for teachers in 2025/26 would be 'appropriate'. In May, the NEU, the largest education union in the UK, threatened to 'register a dispute' with the Government unless it fully funded the pay rise for teachers. Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU, said: 'The Government must respond to the clear evidence and the united voice of the profession. 'To protect our education service and tackle the recruitment and retention crisis, the Government must put in the investment needed to properly value teachers and school leaders.' Helen Osgood, director of operations at Community, said: 'The Government has shown that it is on the side of teachers by supporting the STRB's recommendation of a 4% pay increase from this September. 'Ministers now need to back this up by ensuring that appropriate funding is provided to support the increase. 'This is the only way we can ensure that teacher pay keeps pace against inflation, and that the profession remains competitive within the labour market.'
Techday NZ
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Techday NZ
Microlise drives fleet technology growth across Australia, NZ
Microlise has reported significant growth in its Australia and New Zealand operations, with rising demand for its connected fleet solutions and new customer acquisitions across the region. The company, which began its ANZ operations in 2016 with Coles as its first client, has since established partnerships with almost every major supermarket chain in Australia and New Zealand. Its retail clients now include Woolworths, Metcash, Foodstuffs North Island, Foodstuffs South Island, and Gilmours, while logistics customers feature DHL, and food and beverage companies such as Morco and Aryzta. Regional momentum According to the company's financial results for the fiscal year 2024, the ANZ business segment displayed the fastest growth for Microlise globally since entering the Asia Pacific region. Operations have expanded to cover Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and Auckland, with the regional headquarters located in Melbourne. Luke Olsen, Managing Director at Microlise ANZ, highlighted the importance of relationships and performance for the company's results. "The growth we're seeing across ANZ is a testament to the strength of our partnerships and the value our technology brings to retailers and transport operators. As we scale, our focus remains on delivering measurable impact from efficiency gains to real-time visibility for our customers across the supply chain." Microlise's technology offerings are centred on helping clients in logistics and retail improve operational efficiency, cut emissions, manage costs, and enhance delivery safety. The recent financial year included a marked uplift in hardware deployments and a 27% increase in professional services revenue, supported by greater vehicle availability. Financial performance The group's global financial figures for FY24 reflect the overall growth trajectory, with adjusted group revenue at AUD $153.9 million, annual recurring revenue of AUD $107.54 million, and adjusted EBITDA reaching AUD $21.47 million. Worldwide, Microlise also added 375 new customers during the year. Vehicle supply chain challenges in Australia during the first half of 2024 affected rollouts for new customers. As supply constraints eased in the latter half of the year, deployment of Microlise products across customer fleets increased, supporting additional market growth. Safety and recognition Microlise's focus on fleet safety was acknowledged with the company being named a winner in the 'Fleet Safety Product' category at the 2024 Australasian Fleet Champions Awards. The business was also listed as a finalist in the Automation, Robotics and Emerging Technology category of the ASCL awards. The company's presence continues to grow in the retail sector, with nearly every supermarket chain in Australia and New Zealand now utilising its solutions to manage logistics and transport operations. Ongoing investment Following ongoing customer growth and increased adoption of its solutions, Microlise has committed to further investment in local sales and services in the ANZ region. This includes plans to build on its current staffing across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and Auckland to support fleet operators and retail supply chains. With operations in the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and India, Microlise handles over 626,000 subscriptions annually, serving more than 400 enterprise clients globally across various industries. The company's connected technology platforms are positioned to support compliance, safety, and operational efficiency for logistics and retail customers as the supply chain environment across Australia and New Zealand continues to evolve.
Western Telegraph
30-06-2025
- General
- Western Telegraph
Language GCSE take-up much lower in less affluent schools in England
Around half of GCSE students in state schools in England study a modern foreign language (MFL) – except in the most affluent areas where take-up is significantly higher, according to the British Council's Language Trends report. The survey of teachers at 1,011 schools in England suggests that recruitment challenges hit schools serving disadvantaged communities hardest. Around two in three (68%) of the least affluent schools reported difficulties hiring qualified MFL teachers, compared with 57% in the most affluent schools, according to the report. Schools in more affluent areas are more likely, by over 20 percentage points, to have more pupils learning a language Report In the most affluent schools (quintile one), teachers reported that 69% of Year 11 pupils were studying a language for GCSE on average, compared with 47% in the most deprived schools (quintile five). Overall, teachers reported that 53% of pupils study a language for GCSE. Researchers calculated the quintiles, from least to most deprived areas, based on the percentage of pupils on free school meals (FSMs) – quintile one with the lowest percentage of children on FSMs and quintile five with the highest. The report said: 'Schools in more affluent areas are more likely, by over 20 percentage points, to have more pupils learning a language.' Vicky Gough, schools adviser at the British Council, said: 'This year's report shows a clear gap in language learning linked to socioeconomic background. 'Last year, we found just 6% of students across the UK thought it was very likely they'd use another language in their future career. 'Together, these findings highlight a stark reality: young people from less privileged backgrounds are missing out on opportunities their peers are more likely to access.' The report also suggested that small class sizes are making it harder for schools to keep language courses running at A-level. Just over half of schools reported having the capacity to offer A-level languages, either delivered within the school or in partnership with a neighbouring school. But among the least affluent schools, this figure dropped to just 31%. Report author Dr Ian Collen, from Queen's University Belfast, said: 'I continue to be concerned about small MFL classes not running at A-level. 'Local decisions have national consequences; when multiplied throughout England, it means that the language learning journey stops for hundreds of young people. 'We must invest at post-16 to ensure a healthier pipeline into further and higher education, and indeed the economy. This is one of the subject areas that is affected by severe teacher shortages across the country and these can be most acute in schools serving disadvantaged communities Pepe Di'Iasio, ASCL Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: 'Schools in all communities work very hard to provide excellent opportunities for their students to learn languages and fully recognise the benefits of language learning. 'However, this is one of the subject areas that is affected by severe teacher shortages across the country and these can be most acute in schools serving disadvantaged communities. 'In addition, languages are perceived as a difficult option, and this may deter children from disadvantaged backgrounds who lack academic confidence, and who may have had fewer opportunities to travel than their peers and, therefore, less exposure to other languages. 'We would like to see further action taken to support schools in boosting language learning.' Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'There are huge benefits for children learning a foreign language and there is some excellent language teaching in both primary and secondary schools. 'However, as this report shows, some schools are struggling to recruit the language teachers they need to offer courses at GCSE and beyond, with recruitment targets for modern foreign languages missed in the last couple of years. 'This needs addressing urgently if more pupils are to learn a language.'
