Is Friday the new ‘day off school’ for students?
Reducing Friday absences could yield substantial gains in student achievement, particularly in more deprived areas.
Why Fridays matter more than we think
This new research, The ‘Friday effect’: School attendance over the week (Clifton-Sprigg & James, 2024), published in the British Educational Research Journal, explores how students in England are significantly more likely to miss school on a Friday.
Using nationwide daily attendance data, it shows that absence rates
The research on the “Friday effect” is a crucial reminder of how school attendance patterns can shape student outcomes, especially in disadvantaged areas. The fact that absences spike significantly on Fridays—20% more than on other weekdays—underscores the importance of reevaluating how we approach the end of the school week. Fridays shouldn’t feel like a ‘light’ day; instead, schools should use this knowledge to engage students more effectively, perhaps by scheduling more interactive or rewarding activities. It’s not just about attendance; it’s about fostering a culture where every day counts, and students feel motivated to show up. I hope this sparks further discussion on how we can better support students and parents to tackle absenteeism—particularly as it contributes to long-term educational inequality. What steps are schools taking to address this?