by Tim Nuttall
Thanks to the combined efforts of students, parents, carers and staff, Withernsea High School’s autumn attendance figures reflected a strong commitment to learning, despite the seasonal challenges experienced both nationally and regionally.
A programme of attendance rewards, comprising competitions and ad hoc giveaways, played a key role in supporting this progress by celebrating students who demonstrated excellent or improved attendance.
Deputy head teacher Beci Pindar said: “In the autumn term, whole-school attendance stood at 91.7 per cent.
“In the context of seasonal illness and associated health challenges, this figure reflects the dedication of our students, families and staff to maintaining strong engagement with learning. It broadly reflects national trends and remains in line with the same period last year.
“As with many schools, illness remains one of the main challenges, resulting in short periods of absence for some students. We are grateful to families for working closely with us to report absences and to support students in returning to school as soon as they are well enough.”
Reflecting on the measures in place to promote positive attendance habits, Beci added: “We remain committed to improving attendance through targeted support for students and families, ongoing monitoring, and timely interventions where barriers are identified, alongside celebrating students’ excellent and improving attendance throughout the year.
“Together with our whole school community, we will build on the progress made in the autumn term to support continued improvement in the spring.”
September marked a strong start to the academic year, with over half of the school’s learners recording full attendance. This achievement was formally acknowledged through the school’s first incentive of the year, when one eligible student from each of the five year groups was named a 100 per cent attendance hero. Each recipient received a £50 voucher of their choice in recognition of their achievement.
The year seven prize was awarded to Scarlett-Anne S, followed by Corey S (year eight), Oskar D (year nine), Alfie K (year 10), and Dan L (year 11).
Reflecting on his award, year nine recipient Oskar said: “I was surprised when I found out I had won. School is really important because if you are not here, you miss out on lessons and learning.”
Year seven winner Scarlett-Anne added: “I did not expect to win, but I am really grateful for my voucher. I think attending school is really important.”
To maintain momentum and reinforce consistent attendance habits, a series of initiatives were introduced throughout the term. The Level Up! challenge encouraged students to improve their attendance compared with the previous half term, ensuring that even small gains were recognised. Meanwhile, Freddo Friday, held on December 12, rewarded every student who was present on the day with a complimentary chocolate.
Tutor groups were also acknowledged for their collective efforts. Those achieving attendance above 95 per cent during a designated week in November were awarded a box of sweets for their form. In addition, the top-attending tutor groups during the first two weeks of December were invited to a Christmas Breakfast in the final week of term, where they enjoyed fruit, pastries and hot chocolate at the start of the school day.
Following a successful launch last year, this year’s incentive scheme will once again culminate in an end-of-year grand prize draw. Students who achieve 100 per cent attendance in any given week receive a raffle ticket, which provides one entry into the draw.
The more weeks a student attends in full, the more entries they accumulate, increasing their chances of winning.
Last year, sponsors including Southgates Chartered Certified Accountants, Howdens Joinery, Tony Cook Group, Martin Williams (Hull), The Deep, and Devine Landscapes contributed generously to the prize draw, which rewarded positive attendance with prizes including an iPad, AirPods, shopping vouchers, and gaming technology.
Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart, with support from Hull Trains, also contributed to the incentives programme by arranging an expenses-paid trip to London for four top-attending students, which included a tour of the Houses of Parliament. This is an experience the school hopes to repeat this year.
Harriet Elvidge, attendance officer, said: “Last year’s Door to Draw incentive was a great success, thanks to the generous support of local businesses. Their encouragement makes a real difference to our school community and we warmly welcome further prize donations for the year ahead.
“Congratulations to the students who have worked hard to improve their attendance so far this academic year, particularly those who have maintained full attendance. The autumn term incentives proved highly effective, generating strong engagement and enthusiasm.
“Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many students highlighting how the incentives helped them stay focused and aim higher in their studies. Most importantly, our rewards programme recognises both short-term progress and sustained improvement, ensuring it remains inclusive, encouraging and accessible to all students.”
Beci added: “We are incredibly proud of our students for their dedication and would like to thank all parents and carers for their continued support. We are very aware of how families play a vital role in ensuring good attendance and we value this support. Simple steps that can be taken include encouraging a consistent morning routine to promote punctuality and scheduling medical appointments outside of school hours whenever possible.”
For further information about the school’s rewards and incentives scheme, or to discuss donation opportunities, please contact Harriet Elvidge on 01964 611523 or via email at [email protected].