Abstract
This report documents the findings of a detailed study of the relationship between attendance at school and student outcomes. The study was commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) in 2012, and conducted by The University of Western Australia (Centre for Child Health Research, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research) using unique data provided by the Western Australian Department of Education (WA DoE).
The primary aims of the study were to assess patterns of attendance over time, how these patterns vary across schools and students with different characteristics, and how these patterns of attendance contribute to student outcomes. In addition, the research team were asked to consider attendance measures that could be used at a national level to enhance national reporting.
The study made novel use of data collected as part of the routine administrative processes of the WA DoE and represents the first time these data have been used in a systematic population study of these aims. The data and approach have enabled us to demonstrate the relationship between attendance and achievement and how this is affected by aspects of disadvantage.