100 per cent attendance results in top prizes for lucky Leeds pupils

Thousands of children and young people attended school 100 per cent of the time in November last year after taking part in a city-wide attendance competition.

Over 36,000 children and young people achieved 100 per cent attendance in November 2009 as part of the ‘Give it 100%’ competition organised by Education Leeds’ attendance champions team.

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Media are invited to the prize giving at the Radio Aire studios on Tuesday 26 January. Breakfast will be served from 9.30am and prizes awarded from 10am. Please call 0113 3951577 or email jon.crampton@leeds.gov.uk to confirm attendance
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November often has one of lowest attendance rates of the year so Education Leeds increased its support to schools by encouraging pupils to attend every day throughout the month to be in with a chance of winning top prizes.

The attendance competition also runs in March every year, which is also a month where attendance rates can fall. ‘Give it 100%’ is designed to promote the importance of good attendance and encourage children and young people to have as little time off as possible.

A prize giving event will be hosted by Radio Aire tomorrow (Tuesday 26 January) where children and young people will be presented with prizes by DJs JK and Joel.

Each of the 37 schools which entered will have a winner and the prizes include Nintendo DSi’s, school parties with a Radio Aire DJ, iPods, digital radios, class and individual prizes for Go Karting, and family days out from SnowZone, Hollywood Bowl and the Ice Cube.

Councillor Richard Harker, executive board member for education at Leeds City Council, said:
“The attendance champions competition is a great way of increasing attendance and raising awareness of the benefits of regularly going to school. The response to this additional competition was impressive and saw more than 36,000 pupils achieve 100 per cent attendance. I hope the lucky winners enjoy their fantastic prizes.”

Chris Edwards, chief executive of Education Leeds, said:
“We want every child and young person to spend as much time as possible in our brilliant schools where they can be happy, healthy, safe and successful. It has been shown that missing just 17 days in one school year can lead to a drop of an entire grade at GCSE so the importance of regular attendance should not be underestimated.

“Congratulations to all those who took part. They are all winners and their prize is a better education to set them up for the rest of their lives.”

‘Give it 100%’ is one of a number of attendance champions initiatives, competitions and advertising campaigns run by Education Leeds to remind children that every school day counts.

ENDS
For media enquiries please contact:
Jon Crampton, Leeds City Council press office, 0113 3951577
Email: jon.crampton@leeds.gov.uk