You have high ‘aspirations’ which means that you are hoping for certain things from your adult life –  such as a reasonable standard of living,  But you don’t easily recognise the link between attending  school and achieving what you want in adult life after school.

FACT: Students who miss school have lower grades than students with fewer unexcused absences [1]

FACT: Adults who were chronically absent from school when young are more likely to have poorer health, experience poverty and raise children who themselves exhibit problem behaviours than good school attenders [2]

FACT: Children who attend school regularly are four times more likely to achieve five or more good GCSEs, including English and Maths, than those who are persistently absent [3]

FACT:There is a direct link between school attendance and future employment (ie if you miss school you are more liked to end up unemployed) [4]

1. National Center for School Engagement literature review (Heilbrunn, 2007

2. Baker, Sigmon, and Nugent, 2001

3. Schools Minister Nick Gibb quoted in The Independent, Wednesday 28 March 2012

4. Bromley borough website http://www.bromley.gov.uk/info/35/school_attendance_and_truancy/20/school_attendance/2