Across the UK, school attendance has become a growing concern for teachers and parents alike. But one north London primary school is taking an approach that feels far more human — and the results are impressive.
Netley Primary School in Camden has replaced traditional truancy fines with parent education and awareness courses. Instead of issuing a penalty straight away, the school invites parents to join a series of four supportive sessions designed to help families understand the long-term impact of persistent absence.
Think of it a bit like speed awareness courses, but for school attendance — the goal isn’t punishment, but understanding.
A More Empathetic Approach
Head teacher Gareth Morris explains that many parents simply aren’t aware of the emotional toll frequent absences can have.
“Feedback from parents has been incredibly positive, especially around highlighting the anxiety their children feel from missing school.”
And the impact? According to the school, 8 out of 10 families who attended the sessions saw their children’s attendance dramatically improve.
Parents still face fines if the situation doesn’t improve — but the school’s first instinct is to guide and support rather than penalise.
Support That Goes Beyond Data
Much of the programme’s success is credited to Simone Sarosh-Cambridge, the school’s Family and Children’s Champion. She doesn’t just track attendance numbers — she works directly with children who are struggling, helping them rebuild confidence and ensuring they feel safe and supported in school.
Her role is funded largely through charitable support, a model used by several Camden schools. But not all schools have the resources to offer such tailored help.
A Borough-Wide Challenge
Camden Council recently highlighted Netley’s success in tackling attendance. But the borough still faces significant challenges:
- Over 20% of pupils miss more than one in ten lessons.
- Camden ranks near the bottom among London boroughs for both primary and secondary attendance.
- Disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND are disproportionately affected.
The issue isn’t only illness or anxiety — term-time holidays also play a major role. As Mr Morris points out, rising airfare costs make travelling in term time far cheaper than school holidays — meaning the £120 fine is not always a deterrent.
This raises a bigger question:
Is the traditional school calendar still fit for purpose?
Why This Matters for Parents
What Netley’s approach shows is that attendance issues are rarely solved by punishment. Families benefit far more from:
- Understanding how absence affects learning and wellbeing
- Being offered practical, empathetic support
- Having a trusted adult in school who can work directly with their child
- Building communication between home and school
At Walnut Learning, we believe the most effective educational support starts with collaboration, not blame. Netley’s model is a powerful example of what can happen when schools and families work as partners.