State-of-the-art robots which “sit in class” for pupils unable to be there in person have helped boost attendance to above the national average at a Billericay school.

Avatar robots, known as AV1, were brought in by the new leadership at Mayflower High School to encourage non-attending pupils back into the classroom.

Carried around the school in a bag, the robots are used to enable absent students to “sit in class” with their classmates and learn as if they were present. They act as an all-seeing eye for pupils at home – who can turn the robot’s head to look around the room and interact as if they were physically there.

Thanks to this, alongside new technology which means staff are alerted instantly when a pupil is registered as absent, the school now has an attendance rate of 93.6 per cent, above the national average of 91.1 per cent.Helping pupils - The school said the technology has helped students return to the classroomHelping pupils - The school said the technology has helped students return to the classroom (Image: Mayflower High School)

Assistant headteacher Dan Griffin said: “This is bridging the gap for those not yet able to be there in person. It is better than that student not being in class at all. It is better than no form of education.

“AV1 robots can be used to effectively put a physically absent student in the classroom. They can interact with their classmates and teachers.

“Sometimes, it’s about starting with just one lesson and building on that.” 

Attendance rising - Teaching assistant Gill Pether with an AV1 robotAttendance rising - Teaching assistant Gill Pether with an AV1 robot (Image: Mayflower High School)

 

 
Mr Griffin joined the school alongside new headteacher Damian Lee who was brought in to turn around the school’s outcomes after Ofsted ordered the school to improve following an inspection in March last year.

The school leaders, as well as attendance officer Michelle Ragon, made it their goal to identify who was missing from lessons and why, and to entice non-attending pupils back to school.

Ms Ragon said: “It was not about sanctions. We wanted to focus on the positives. We wanted to recognise those who were improving, as well as those at the top end, so we offered movies with popcorn and celebrated each week in assembly.

“It was hard going, but we saw the impact of that in the first term.”

The school has reassured parents the attendance rate has never dipped enough to raise concerns with education authorities.

Mr Griffin added: “We have improved significantly in one year. We are pleased, but we want to continue to see improvement in attendance.”