ABSTRACT
Several years ago, a large comprehensive school in South Wales received a highly critical HMI Report. One of the major problems identified at that time was school attendance. Since then, the school has worked prodigiously to improve its image, culture, attendance and achievement targets. The school appointed a new headteacher who, in turn, focused staff attention on attendance. He created a post of attendance support teacher which, in the first three years, was filled by an experienced and empathetic member of staff, Elaine Reynolds, who was funded by the Welsh Office out of GEST money. Subsequently, Elaine returned to her original post, having worked assiduously to achieve the school’s improved targets, something she achieved with great distinction. Elaine also used her ‘field’ experiences to obtain a research degree at Swan sea Institute of Higher Education.
