Hon Colin Tincknell asked about student attendance rates in WA Government schools as of September 30, 2020. The response indicates data limitations due to COVID-19 and reporting standards, with the data provided in a tabled paper.

AnsweredQoN 3289Legislative Council
Asked
8 October 2020
Portfolio
Education and Training

QuestionView source ↗

For each Western Australian Government school in 2020, as at 30 September 2020: (a) how many student's attendance rate was between 80 and 89 per cent; (b) what is this number, as a percentage, of the total student enrolment for each school; (c) how many student's attendance rate was between 60 and 80 per cent; (d) what is this number, as a percentage, of the total student enrolment for each school; (e) how many student's attendance rate was at, or below, 59 per cent; and (f) what is this number, as a percentage, of the total student enrolment for each school?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
10 November 2020
Responded by
Minister for Education and Training
Response time
10 days
The Department of Education reports attendance in accordance with the National Standards for Student Attendance Data Reporting.  The National Standards require reporting of Semester 1, 2020 data, not for the year to 30 September 2020 as specified in the question. 30 September 2020 fell in Semester 2 and data for this semester is incomplete.
The attendance ranges provided are as per the Department’s attendance reporting conventions.  For example:
·         students with an attendance rate of 80 per cent are included in the responses to (a) and (b), and not (c) and (d);
·         the responses to (e) and (f) include students whose attendance rate was lower than 60 per cent, such as those with a rate of 59.9 per cent, rather than just including students whose attendance rate was below 59 per cent.
COVID-19 substantially affected school attendance data nationally in Semester 1, 2020, though schools in WA remained open.  There are inconsistencies between how jurisdictions recorded school absences arising from COVID-19-related school closures and restrictions.
(a)-(f)  [Refer to Tabled Paper No         ]

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