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The attendance rate for primary school pupils during the year was 90.97% (a 1.17% annual rise), with the secondary school rate being 87.61% (up 1.68%).

Whilst primary school figures across Wales are yet to be released, national statistics for secondary schools show a significant increase in Neath Port Talbot with the Local Authority’s ranking going from 21st place in 2022/23 to 15th place in 2023/24.

This is a seven-place improvement over two years and now puts Neath Port Talbot less than half a percentage point short of the Welsh average.

The encouraging figures were contained in an update report given to Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet on November 13th, 2024.

To improve attendance further in Neath Port Talbot, Education Welfare Service (EWS) staff hold regular meeting with key school staff to discuss individual pupil cases and provide advice, support and to determine appropriate courses of action.

The EWS also has close links with police who together carry out regular truancy patrols in both Neath and Port Talbot town centres.

This summer, Estyn, the education and training inspectorate for Wales, looked at attendance in Neath Port Talbot as part of a national three-day pilot inspection.

The inspectors were very complimentary of the support the council gave its schools as it continued to improve its attendance journey, recognising the collaboration it had with its schools and the strength of approaches to improve attendance.

They particularly praised the good knowledge councillors had of the council support available for the issue and how the cabinet member and the education scrutiny committee met with officers regularly to consider progress.