Webinar: A practical conversation about trust, responsibility, early support and student engagement.
How can schools improve attendance, identify pupils at risk earlier, and build a culture where students want to show up?
Student attendance remains one of the biggest challenges facing schools across the UK. But improving attendance is not only about recording absence, tightening procedures or applying more pressure.
It is also about culture.
How do schools build environments where students feel expected, supported and motivated to attend? How can absence be treated as an early signal for dialogue and support? And what can UK schools learn from education systems that place greater emphasis on trust, responsibility and early intervention?
On 1 July at 1pm UK time, Attender invites UK school leaders and education professionals to a free webinar exploring Denmark’s approach to student attendance, engagement and school culture.
The session will feature Kurt Nielsen, CEO of EdTech Denmark, who will share a broader Danish perspective on how trust, responsibility, dialogue and technology shape the way Danish schools approach student engagement and attendance.
Kurt will be joined by Phillip Painter, safeguarding and attendance consultant, and Heine Jensen, CEO and co-founder of Attender, for a short introduction and moderated discussion.
Denmark is not a perfect model, and Danish schools also face challenges with absence and engagement. But the Danish education culture offers an interesting contrast: a more trust-based approach, with emphasis on student responsibility, early dialogue, practical support and positive motivation.
What we will cover
Denmark’s trust-based education culture
How trust, responsibility and dialogue influence the way Danish schools work with students.
Attendance as an early signal
Why absence should be seen not only as a compliance issue, but as a sign that something may need attention.
Carrot vs stick
What UK schools might learn from a culture that often places more emphasis on motivation, ownership and support.
Student responsibility and engagement
How schools can help students take a more active role in their own attendance and learning.
Using data constructively
How attendance data can support earlier dialogue, better follow-up and more targeted intervention.
What can — and cannot — be copied
A practical discussion about which Danish ideas may be useful for UK schools, MATs, sixth forms and colleges.
Attender perspective
A brief look at how technology can support faster registration, better attendance insight and student engagement.
The focus is primarily UK schools, but anyone interested in attendance, absence reduction and student engagement is very welcome to join. And yes, it is free to participate.
