Attendance, AI, and School Leadership

Saturday, 12 September 2026 — What’s shaping schools this Saturday

Top Stories

Wellbeing

Half of college students persistently absent, raising alarms ↗

Around 42,000 16- and 17-year-olds in England are classed as ‘hidden absentees’. That’s a big red flag for schools and colleges trying to keep young people engaged and on track.

Source: Education Executive
AI

DfE flags need for more AI training in schools ↗

Microsoft’s 2026 AI in Education report shows schools are keen on AI but lack the know-how. Training and clear guidance are essential if AI is going to support teachers rather than confuse them.

Source: Open Data Science
Leadership

Smaller school systems reveal true organisational behaviour ↗

In smaller professional ecosystems, it’s impossible to hide behind branding. What you say and what you do must align, or it quickly becomes obvious. A reminder that culture is not a buzzword, it’s day-to-day reality.

Source: FE News
Policy

Northern Ireland schools to offer girls trouser option from next year ↗

A welcome move for choice and comfort. Uniform policies that adapt to pupils’ needs matter more than ever for inclusion and wellbeing.

Source: The Guardian
Al's Take
Attendance is still a huge challenge, especially with so many students missing lessons for all sorts of reasons. On the AI front, it’s clear schools need more practical training and sensible guidance to make the most of the tech. And for leaders, smaller systems mean behaviours are on full display, so your culture has to be authentic and strong.

Number of the Day

713
The number of education news items published this week, showing how much is going on and how important it is to stay on top of the latest developments. (Platform weekly stats)

Jobs Spotlight

Assistant Head Staff Development and Co Curriculum
Unknown · London
Electrical Project Manager Senior Director
Hays Education · Cambridge
Team Leader - Performance and Finance
Dundee City Council · Dundee, Scotland · £54,598 - £59,711 per year
Deputy Childcare Supervisor, Luncarty Wraparound Care
Perth and Kinross Council · Perth and Kinross, Scotland · £16,881 - £17,784 per year

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Worth a Read

Young people, learning, and generative AI: A rapid literature review ↗

by Dr Matthew Hill

Offers a clear overview of how AI is impacting young learners and what schools can do to prepare. Always worth a read if you’re thinking about AI in your setting.

Coming Up

researchED Cape Town 2026 ↗ — 12 Sep 2026, South Africa
Learning Impact Europe 2026 ↗ — 15-17 Sep 2026, Europe
researchED Cork 2026 ↗ — 19 Sep 2026, Ireland

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