Declining school attendance is a nationwide issue and the schools we work with are not immune. For children to learn and benefit from the changes we are supporting in schools, they need to attend. As part of the Cluster work, MPF schools are working together to find solutions to high rates of non attendance. It's becoming clear there is a correlation between low literacy and non attendance and this is a focus of enquiry.
We understand that shifting attendance habits requires more than just in-school strategies—it demands a cultural change and a thoughtful response to broader societal shifts.
It's not always easy to align diverse perspectives, but the Cluster format is unlocking new opportunities for collaboration. We're committed to supporting schools as they weave together the pieces of a seamless educational pathway - one that reaches every young person, whether they're in a primary or secondary setting, learning in person or online.
We are hugely grateful to our donors for supporting these new ideas and are excited to be forming a widely collaborative system that can stitch together existing resources and close gaps in a meaningful way. This is the power of philanthropy, to give leaders support and confidence to test new ideas and find sustainable solutions.