How to tackle attendance – creating ‘attendance-drenched’ schools, building trust & taking practical steps that work

We’re kicking off Series 2 with a powerful conversation on a topic that often dominates school and trust leadership today: attendance.

Joining us is Jayne Lowe OBE, a national adviser to the Department for Education on attendance, behaviour, safeguarding, and education in youth custody. Jayne was instrumental in developing the Working Together to Improve School Attendance guidance and brings decades of experience as a teacher, headteacher, local authority leader, and trust board trustee.

In this episode, Jayne gives us a clear-eyed overview of the national attendance picture, explains why visible leadership is essential in shifting culture, and outlines what it means to build an ‘attendance-drenched’ environment. We explore the practical steps trust and school leaders can take to create calm, safe, and high-expectation spaces – even when facing complex barriers like SEND, mental health, or disengagement post-COVID.

From using data more effectively and rebuilding trust with families, to addressing term-time holidays, and the balance around rewarding attendance – this episode is packed with practical insights, strategic thinking, and real-world examples leaders can apply right away.

LINKS

If you have responsibility for attendance in your school or trust, book a place on our practical leadership course on strategic leadership of attendance with Jayne Lowe, expert attendance adviser to the DfE and former headteacher - running in November 2025. 

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit: key.sc/trustsupport
Subscribe to our newsletter, Trust Matters: key.sc/trustmatters
Connect with Jayne Lowe OBE on LinkedIn: Jayne Lowe OBE

All views expressed in this episode are the guest’s own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.