Renfrewshire schools are using attendance data updated every four weeks to target support, with councillors told that S3 girls are a particular area of concern.
Officers outlined the work at Renfrewshire Council’s Education and Children’s Services Policy Board on Thursday, 29th October 2026.
The service monitoring report records secondary attendance of 86.2% in 2025/26, down from 87.6% the previous year and below a 91% target.
Primary attendance fell from 93.8% to 93.3%, against a target of 95.5%.
An education officer said local data reflected a national trend involving S3 girls. Mental health remained a factor in attendance, despite improvements reported through the council’s health and wellbeing study.
The officer also pointed to seasonal flu and differences in school finishing dates as factors affecting attendance.
Schools can examine the four-weekly information by year group and by groups of vulnerable pupils, allowing staff to review whether support is working.
The officer said: “There is a rigorous focus on individual pupil data and what that looks like.”
Councillors also heard about a programme for pupils experiencing emotionally based school avoidance, where emotional distress makes attending school difficult.
The programme is run by the council’s educational psychology service, with psychologists working alongside school pupil support staff to identify suitable support.
Officers said attendance was reviewed across services as well as within education, with reports considered by senior managers each term.
The officer added: “It is very challenging, but we are absolutely committed to it.”