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Core / Benchmarking

Benchmarking: frame an attendance question with fairer comparisons

Student Radar helps school leaders compare recorded attendance with published school context, choosing the measure, year and coverage before using the result in a review.

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Keep current and published periods distinct. Similar schools and relative position provide context; they do not establish cause or prove an intervention worked.

Fictional school example; read the selected scope, dates and any coverage or availability notices.

Attendance benchmarking

Put attendance into context before drawing a conclusion.

Compare your school with a published population using a chosen phase, year and school-context measure.

01
Keep current and published periods distinct
Current MIS attendance gives an operational working figure with its own dates and coverage. Published attendance uses the selected completed year where the school has a value. The page keeps the distinction visible instead of turning a partial-year difference into a like-for-like verdict.
02
Choose the comparison that fits the question
Select phase, published year and a measure such as free school meals, deprivation, school size, SEN support, EHCP or EAL. Similar examples follow the chosen measure; attendance does not decide which example schools are selected. Unavailable measures and small samples remain explicit.
03
Use the context for a better review
Read the distribution, selected-measure plot, example schools, permitted pupil groups and weekday context together. About the data explains the method and limitations. Download CSV or Copy summary preserves the selected context for the leadership conversation; a position above a median does not establish why attendance differs.

Inspect

Make the period difference visible

The current school figure carries its own dates and coverage beside the completed published reference. Historical context is not presented as a same-period result.

The current school figure carries its own dates and coverage beside the completed published reference. Historical context is not presented as a same-period result. Fictional school example.

Act deliberately

Keep the method close to the conclusion

About the data explains the selected population and comparison measure. Staff can check the limits before copying a summary or using the chart in discussion.

About the data explains the selected population and comparison measure. Staff can check the limits before copying a summary or using the chart in discussion. Fictional school example.

Review

Choose context that fits the question

The comparison measure can be school size, deprivation or an available pupil-characteristic percentage. Different measures select different similar schools.

The comparison measure can be school size, deprivation or an available pupil-characteristic percentage. Different measures select different similar schools. Fictional school example.

A clearer school review

Keep the working record useful to the people making the next decision.

Distinguish operational figures from published context

Choose an explicit similar-school comparison

Carry dates and limits into leadership discussion

Questions about Benchmarking

Can leaders compare schools from the same published year?

The benchmarking workflow includes a published-year comparison and comparison-school context. Read the dates, measure and method before interpreting a difference.

Can leaders export a comparison for a governor discussion?

The workflow includes an export for leadership or governor review. Staff check the published year, measure, method and coverage before sharing the comparison.

Related help guides

See how to carry out these tasks in Student Radar, with step-by-step product help for the people using them.

Compare attendance using the benchmarking context For Attendance staff, pastoral leaders and school leaders with the relevant access

The value of a connected school

See the pattern. Bring the context.

A change in attendance or behaviour is the start of a conversation. The connected pupil record helps staff ask a better next question.

SENDPlans, provision & reviews
HealthMedical needs & care plans
Family communicationContact history & next actions

Core

Context for the next step

Student Radar

Follow a connection to see what it makes possible

Relevant context, with access set by each staff member’s role and responsibilities. Staff decide the response.

SEND + Core
Check whether support is reaching the pupil
Put attendance and behaviour alongside plans, provision and review evidence. Staff can investigate missed support before deciding what needs to change.
Explore SEND
Health + Core
Bring health needs into the attendance conversation
Authorised staff can check relevant medical needs and care plans when following up absence, then agree practical support with the family.
Explore health
Family communication + Core
Keep the family conversation with the follow-up
Read the contact history around a pupil before reaching out. Record the next action so another colleague can pick up the conversation with context.
Explore family communication

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