BOYS are being encouraged to maintain a good attendance at Barden High School, Burnley - with a series of incentives.

The school is aiming for an 89 to 90 per cent attendance level and, with the help of local companies, including McDonald's, for the last three years has given away prizes and meal vouchers for 100 per cent attendance and improved attendance.

This week, the school has introduced a top class competition where the mixed ability tutor groups compete for prizes and are awarded points depending on the punctuality of every boy in the class. Head teacher George Senior said: "Barden wishes all boys to reach their full academic potential and that is based on good attendance.

"There has been a lot of effort put in to ensure that the boys attend.

"The results of the top class competition are posted in the foyer each week and a graph made to show how well each class is doing.

"There is a great deal of interest in the competition and peer group pressure to attend and on time.

"Non-attendance isn't a serious problem at Barden, but it is something that we must be vigilant about and if we introduce strategies and incentives that improve attendance that can only be to the advantage of the boys we teach."

This week, a hot spot day was held where educational welfare officers visited the school to talk to lower school pupils who have been having problems turning up on time.

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