Leading youth organisations to explore links between enrichment and school attendance in response to ‘absence epidemic’

NCS Trust (National Citizen Service), The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) and the Centre for Young Lives (CfYL) have partnered to explore the evidence linking participation in enrichment activities to improved academic attendance, amidst a rise in persistent absenteeism among young people.

The commission will look to review and summarise evidence on the relationship between participation in enrichment and school attendance. Beyond the evidence review, the research will also draw on best practice case studies through school visits and observation, and interviews with educators from across the UK.

Bradford in West Yorkshire, which has the second highest level of persistent absenteeism in the country, will be a focal point of the project, which aims to take an in-depth look at the city’s challenges and opportunities.

The timely announcement comes as the Government prioritises school attendance, with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson describing the number of children missing school as an “absence epidemic.”

This latest research commission follows the launch of a pioneering Enrichment Partnerships Pilot (EPP), delivered by the NCS and the DofE, that aims to give thousands of young people in schools across selected areas of England the chance to participate in high quality enrichment activities. In May, NCS and DofE released a landmark Education and Enrichment Report, highlighting how partnership working between the youth and education sector ensures high quality enrichment for all.

The Centre for Young Lives, headed by the former Children’s Commissioner for England, Anne Longfield CBE, is an exciting new think tank which launched in early 2024, focused exclusively on improving the lives of children, young people, and families in the UK.

CfYL will be working with YMCA George Williams College and the Carnegie School of Education at Leeds Beckett University on the research project. YMCA George Williams College will convene a youth advisory panel to guide the project’s research design, implementation and final findings. Leeds Beckett’s role focuses on investigating how enrichment activities are currently being used to re-engage young people in education across the UK.

The findings from this research will play a crucial role in addressing the ongoing school attendance crisis, providing insights that will help guide young people and key stakeholders in developing effective strategies to use enrichment activities to re-engage students in their learning.

Rachel C Boyle, Dean of the Carnegie School of Education at Leeds Beckett University, said: “We are proud to contribute to this vital research at a time when persistent school absenteeism is an urgent challenge for educators, policymakers, and communities. Enrichment activities can transform the educational experience for many young people, providing opportunities for personal growth and a pathway back into regular school attendance. By investigating how these activities are currently used across the UK, we hope to offer practical, evidence-based strategies to re-engage students and help them thrive in their education. This research will be key in informing the next steps in addressing this nationwide issue.”

Harris Bokhari OBE, NCS Trust Chair, said: “This is a critical research activity that the Government and youth sector should embrace, as it delves into any links between education, enrichment and school attendance, especially urgent given the current crisis of persistent absenteeism.

“Schools serve as vital spaces where young people learn to interact with others and develop essential future skills. At NCS, we understand the profound impact that enrichment activities can have in helping young people become work ready and world ready, and how enrichment can be embedded around the school environment. By investigating how these activities influence school attendance, we aim to uncover effective strategies to tackle the challenges facing our education system and ultimately support more young people in achieving their potential.”

Ruth Marvel, CEO, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, said: “Young people have a right to the best possible education, and that includes having access to high quality enrichment activities. Many young people look forward to these activities most in the school day and we know that they can bring unique benefits like boosting confidence, improving mental health and increasing employability.

“Through this research, we look forward to exploring whether there are links between enrichment and school attendance as part of a national ambition to re-engage children and young people in school.”

Anne Longfield CBE, Executive Chair of the Centre for Young Lives said, “The absence crisis has seen thousands of children missing school since the pandemic, with serious consequences for their future life chances. Supporting the thousands of children who are not in school to attend is one of the Government’s biggest challenges if it is to deliver on its mission to widen opportunity for all children and young people.

“Enrichment activities can be key to helping children stay in and get back into school, and we are delighted that the NCS Trust and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award are supporting us to explore the evidence showing its benefit to children’s learning and development. Together with our partners, our work will show the importance of enrichment activities, and set out ambitious solutions to tackling this crisis.”

NCS, the DofE and CfYL expect to have a final research report with a set of key policy recommendations in early 2025.