Jersey’s school attendance figures have remained consistent since the pandemic – after Guernsey and Alderney launched a campaign to tackle truancy.

Education leaders in both Guernsey and Alderney said attendance has become an increasing challenge since the Covid-19 pandemic – seeing standards slip within the first week of a new term.

‘Attendance Matters’ was launched earlier this year as education officials in the islands claimed were facing international and national issues with school attendance post-lockdown.

The initiative aims to support pupils’ attendance throughout the school year by addressing the underlying reasons for persistent absence, instead of focusing on the penalty which follows it.

Figures for Jersey though have stayed consistent, although the lowest levels of attendance within the last five years were just one year after the lockdown.

Numbers released by CYPES, noting the yearly attendance for schools run by the Government of Jersey from reception up to year 11, show that Jersey’s attendance has increased minimally since 2021.

These statistics exclude schools which are predominantly privately funded and operated, including Beaulieu Convent School, De La Salle College, Helvetia House School, FCJ Primary School, St George’s Preparatory, St Michael’s Preparatory and St Christopher’s School.

Authorised year 11 study leave is also excluded.

Over the 2021-2022 academic year, Jersey’s attendance across government-run schools was 91.6%.

After the 2021-2022 school year, the first full year back to school following the lockdown, attendance increased and has remained at a steady level.

In 2022, attendance went up by only 0.6% to 93.2%, before it went back down slightly to 93.0%.

The following year in 2024/2025, attendance numbers in Jersey peaked to 93.4% before going back down to 92.9% in 2025/2026.

Guernsey and Alderney’s campaign will see schools and colleges introduce a number of measures, includiing providing families with ‘Back to School’ guidance, clearer signposting on where to get support, imporved training for support and education staff and better partnerships with local health and wellbeing services.

An awareness campaign highlighting how patterns of lateness can add up swiftly is also being emphasised – if a student is 15 minutes late each day, it equates to two weeks of learning lost from a school year.