NT school attendance for Term 3 the highest in years, with one Palmerston school recording a 14 per cent increase

ATTENDANCE for Term 3 is at its highest level in three years, with one Palmerston school recording a whopping 14 per cent increase since Term 2.

ATTENDANCE for Term 3 is at its highest level in three years, with one school recording a whopping 14 per cent increase since Term 2.

Education Minister Lauren Moss said increased attendance and engagement efforts had resulted in the attendance boost.

One of the most successful efforts was made by Moulden Park Primary School, which in Term 2 introduced the Walking School Bus initiative, where staff go to the houses of young students each morning and accompany them to school.

Principal Ali Brady said since the walking bus started, the school had a 14 per cent increase in attendance

Moulden Park Primary School principal Ali Brady with students Ashanti-Lee Ah-Fat 5 and Grace Laughton 6. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“Lots of our kids do walk to school, and we’re really trying to instil a sense of community kindness and care for each other,” she said.

“So this was a really good opportunity where we can get our daily exercise, we can model healthy lifestyles and healthy living, boost our attendance, our enrolment as well because people see us out and about and just promoting our amazing school.”

Ms Brady said children responded well to the bus, which encouraged a love and desire to go to school and learn.

“Most kids are waiting at the gate for us, they look through the fence for us,” she said.

“It’s such a beautiful start to the day.

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“The ones that join our bus are really enthusiastic … We have had them saying that they get to meet different people and make new friends that they normally don’t play with.”

Ms Brady said other attendance driving initiatives at the school included the Clontarf Academy and the Stars Foundation, which focus on and supporting older Aboriginal students.

“We have a breakfast club, so you can have brekkie and emergency lunches, food every day because we did find that food was a little bit of an issue,” she said.

“Just to make sure you come to school, no matter what. We’ve got everything that you need to learn.

“Every kid loves learning that feeling of learning, so that’s a major priority but also the sense of connection and belonging, and that’s a little bit what the school bus is about.”

Ms Moss said targeted initiatives in schools would continue across the Territory.

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“This year, there has been an increased focus on monitoring individual school attendance data and tailored support to schools, which has shown excellent results in schools such as Moulden Park Primary School,” she said.

“Our Territory Labor Government has prioritised investment in education, which has made it possible to deliver focused programs like these and lift outcomes for all Territory students, and we will continue to do so over the next four years.”