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Return To Schools: Isle Of Wight Above National Average For Attendance

Figures show the Isle of Wight was above the national average for school attendance, as pupils returned following coronavirus restrictions.

The Isle of Wight Council says only seven per cent of primary school pupils failed to return to class.

Latest data, from last Wednesday (9), also shows nine per cent of secondary students were no shows.

The Department for Education says absences could be for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 related reasons.

Nationally, figures show that around 88% of all state-funded school students were in attendance on September 10.

Councillor Paul Brading, Cabinet member for education on the Island, said:

"We are doing really well. We will always have pupils off this time of year from normal cold and normal illnesses, but we are doing really well at getting pupils back.

"The feedback from all the heads is that the pupils are loving being back, loving being with their friends again - getting back to some sort of normality in school life. Keen to learn but equally recognising that schools are different and they need to keep the cleanliness up."

The department estimates that 92% of all state schools in England were fully open - and that 99.9% were at least partially open.

According to Cllr Brading, figures are recorded daily by local authority, with statistics returned 24 hours later.

Earlier this week, 34 students were sent home after a pupil at Cowes Primary School tested positive for coronavirus.

Pupils with COVID-19 symptoms, or who have someone in their household who does, should not attend school.

If someone who has attended school is tested positive for COVID-19, pupils they have been in close contact with will be asked to self-isolate. 

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