The schools achieving the best attendance rates across Wales

A HEADTEACHER of a school with one of the highest attendance rates in Wales has shared her recipe for success as the Welsh Government struggles to tackle stubborn absence rates since the pandemic.

- ABBIE WIGHTWICK

It comes as the schools with the highest attendance rates are revealed.

Eleri Jones, acting headteacher at Ysgol Gymraeg Caerffili, believes schools will never return to all-Wales pre-pandemic attendance levels because so much has changed. But she insists it is possible to get more children in more often with the right approach.

Ygol Gymraeg Caerffili, which has a catchment including some of the most deprived areas in Wales, recorded a 98.2% attendance rate in September 2025, compared to the all-Wales average of 93.4% for primary schools and 90.6% for secondaries - and even lower for some areas and groups. Some school leaders say they want more parents fined for not sending their children in but not all agree with this policy.

Currently an average 8.2% of all half-day school sessions are being missed in Wales, with higher absence among least well off pupils and those in key exam years, but not at a handful of schools which have bucked the trend.

The Welsh Government, which has an attendance task force trying to address how to get more children into school, said Ysgol Gymraeg Caerffili has "one of the highest attendance rates in Wales" - while data appears to show it is the highest.

Either way, Eleri puts the school's success down to spending its budget on staff, including family welfare officers and maintaining good communication with families, children and staff.

She says activities pupils want to attend are run during and outside school hours to encourage them in. Funding can be provided if families cannot afford school trips, including residentials.