Leeds Rhinos Foundation have started a pilot award scheme centered on promoting and improving attendance running in four schools so far across the city of Leeds.
The scheme aims to give young people the opportunity to gain the Leeds Rhinos Attendance Ambassador Award through a six week programme each week investigating and solving problems around improving school attendance.
Those who achieve this will then be promoted as the schools designated voices for their school in promoting and highlighting the importance of attendance. The content will focus on identifying and breaking the social barriers towards school attendance, and give the young people the skills to overcome the named barriers.
Children who frequently miss school often fall behind. There is a strong link between good school attendance and achieving good results.
For example, only 12% of pupils with below 80% school attendance achieve five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C including English and Maths, compared to 68% for pupils with attendance greater than 95%.
Good attendance at school shows potential employers that a young person is reliable. Young people who are frequently absent from school are more likely to become involved in, or be a victim of crime and anti-social behaviour.
At present the scheme is being rolled out in a number of partner schools (Castleton, Summerfield, Quarry Mount and Richmond Hill). It is an interactive and engaging course that will give the participants the skills they need to ensure their own attendance is high, and subsequently, the opportunity to promote the importance of attendance in their schools.
For more information on the Attendance Ambassadors Project contact Chris.Godfrey@leedsrugby.com