Back to school: Can youth work help turn the tide on school absence?

New research has found a clear link between regular Youth Zone attendance and improved school attendance.

Our latest report, Back to school: Can youth work help turn the tide on school absence?, shows that young people who attend a Youth Zone regularly are less likely to miss school. The study, commissioned by OnSide and funded by The Burberry Foundation, was carried out by researchers at King’s College London. It is the first time youth club attendance data has been matched with school absence records at this scale.

The analysis compared young people who regularly attended a Youth Zone with a matched group who did not. In 2024, those attending a Youth Zone missed almost two fewer days of school per year (3.84 sessions), a 21% reduction in absence compared with their peers. The impact was strongest for children who joined a Youth Zone aged nine to eleven, and for those who were severely absent – missing more than half of school time. Despite Youth Zones not being designed to tackle absence, the research found they performed as well as, or better than, targeted attendance interventions.

OnSide CEO Jamie Masraff said: “These findings show the important role youth centres can play in addressing the school absence crisis. Youth Zones offer young people a safe, consistent environment, tailored support, and a sense of belonging that helps them stay engaged with school. Youth workers build trusted relationships with young people who may feel overlooked in education, offering encouragement and practical help at key moments. Tackling school absence requires long‑term investment and partnership and we hope this research informs future policy and supports a shared ambition: ensuring every young person can engage, belong and succeed.”

OnSide is calling for youth work to be recognised as part of the wider attendance system, and is urging Government to:

• Integrate youth work into national attendance policy and guidance
• Increase access to out‑of‑school enrichment
• Expand programmes providing qualified youth workers in high‑absence areas
• Invest in the evidence base on youth work and education
• Provide long‑term, sustainable funding for youth provision

Read the full report: www.onsideyouthzones.org/backtoschool