LOW school attendance remains a ‘critical concern’ in the South West, a new report warns.

The region has the worst attendance rates and primary school attainment in the country, and this is a ‘stubborn challenge’, according to the research by the South West Social Mobility Commission.

Most instances of absence have been authorised by schools, the Commission’s annual report says.

It also shows children eligible for free school meals are more likely to miss school in the South West than their peers elsewhere in the country.

In secondary schools this was 17 per cent last year, compared with 14 per cent nationally.

In primary schools this was nine per cent, compared to eight per cent nationally.

In Torbay absence rates for free school meal-eligible pupils (19.1 per cent) were particularly high, equating to almost 1 in 5 school sessions missed.

The annual report, written by Anne-Marie Sim, Beth Brooks and Lee Elliot Major, from the Commission and the University of Exeter, shows a small improvement in results in South West primary schools.

A total of 39 per cent of ‘disadvantaged’ 11-year-olds reached expected levels in reading, writing and maths, compared with 38 per cent in 2023.

However, this is still well below pre-pandemic levels (46 per cent in 2019).

Last year 40 per cent of ‘disadvantaged’ pupils in the South West attained a grade 4 or above in English and maths GCSE, compared with 44 per cent nationally- the same proportions as last year

The South West also continues to have the lowest proportion in the country of young people progressing to higher education – 19 per cent, compared to 29 per cent nationally.

The report identifies Somerset as an area of particular concern, with school performance among children in the early years, primary and secondary schools all well below national and regional averages.

Plymouth, however, now performs strongly across the phases from the early years through to GCSE – a turnaround on five to six years ago when outcomes were amongst the worst in the region.

Results for primary pupils and GCSE candidates from poorer homes are the highest in the peninsula.

In Torbay although younger children are performing well at primary school, GCSE results are well below the regional and national averages.

Outcomes in Cornwall are below the national average but mostly slightly better than the South-West average, but 16-18 outcomes have declined since 2019.

In Devon primary school achievement was identified in the report as a particular concern, with just 36 per cent of ‘disadvantaged’ pupils reaching expected levels in reading, writing and maths at age 11.

However, GCSE outcomes are roughly in line with the South West average.

Primary school absence rates were particularly high in Somerset, driven by both higher-than-average authorised and unauthorised absence – at 9.2 per cent overall compared with a South-West average of 8.8 per cent overall.