AN ACOCKS Green school has been highlighted for its success in improving attendance.
Ninestiles, an Academy is featured as a case study in the Department for Education’s school’s white paper to tackle absences.
The recognition highlights the school’s commitment to removing barriers to education and supporting every learner to succeed.
The case study outlines Ninestiles’ participation in the Breaking Down Barriers to Opportunity: Transforming Attendance conference in March, where schools were encouraged to adopt a “support first” approach to tackling absence.
Central to this approach is a more detailed analysis of attendance data, enabling schools to identify patterns across all levels of absence and intervene earlier to support children.
Following the conference, Ninestiles reviewed and strengthened its own attendance strategies. A key feature of Ninestiles’ success has been its proactive work with feeder primary schools.
The school engages with pupils and families early, building relationships over the summer period and offering practical support such as help with transport and uniform.
This ensures that learners are well-prepared for the transition to secondary school and removes potential barriers to regular attendance.
The impact of these efforts has been significant. In the first half term of 2025, Ninestiles saw its attendance ranking among similar schools rise from 17th to fourth.
In addition, the current Year 7 cohort has achieved the highest attendance levels of any Year 7 group since the pandemic.
Alex Hughes, principal at Ninestiles, an Academy said: “We are delighted to be recognised in the Department for Education’s white paper for our work on attendance.
“This reflects the dedication of our staff members, learners, and families in working together to prioritise attendance. We remain committed to ensuring every young person has the opportunity to thrive in school.”
