An academy trust has defended two of its schools after they were ranked among England's worst for truancy, insisting the absence figures do not show the full picture and that both are undergoing rapid transformation.
Department for Education figures published earlier this week placed Buile Hill Academy in Salford sixth on the list for worst unauthorised absence rates, with a rate of 11%. Denton Community Academy in Tameside was 16th with a rate of 10.3%. A third Greater Manchester school, Dixons Brooklands Academy in Wythenshawe, was in joint 20th position with a rate of 9.9%.
Low starting points
Both Buile Hill and Denton Community are run by the Northern Education Trust (NET), which took control amid 'significant challenges' relating to attendance, behaviour and exam results.
When Buile Hill Academy joined the NET in September 2024, it was 'from a very low starting point', according to trust leaders. Before joining, just 15% of students achieved a Grade 4 or above in both English and maths, well below local and national averages, and attendance was a significant concern, 'without the consistent systems needed to tackle persistent absence'.
When Denton Community Academy joined, officially becoming part of the trust in January 2025, it too faced 'significant challenges', with outcomes well below national averages and attendance below national levels.
Rapid transformation
While the trust acknowledged there is understandable concern about the schools' position in the truancy charts, it said 'it is important to recognise that attendance is a national issue facing all schools' and should be considered 'alongside the wider picture of school performance'.
When the NET takes on a school, leaders say they set 'uncompromisingly high expectations for attendance and behaviour to ensure a calm, safe, and disruption-free learning environment for every student' and insist both Buile Hill and Denton Community are undergoing 'rapid transformation'.
They say change doesn't happen overnight, but they are already seeing huge progress, with the trust's 'clear, consistent attendance systems and strong pastoral support' hailed as 'central to this improvement'. Since joining the trust, Buile Hill Academy has been recognised as one of the most improved in the country for attendance and outcomes.
Improved results
Combined English and maths (Grade 4+) pass rates at Buile Hill rose to 66.5% in 2025 and reached 70.2% in 2026, beating the national average of 65.0%. English Grade 4+ reached 81.8% in 2026. Attendance and engagement have also improved, with persistent absence falling by 7.5 percentage points over the past year.
At Denton Community Academy, results have doubled in a short space of time, with 82% of students now achieving a pass in GCSE English and 78% in maths. Attendance has improved and overall absence has reduced.
Last year it was featured in the M.E.N as one of the most improved schools and among the top performers in Tameside. An Ofsted monitoring inspection also praised a 'calm and purposeful' environment and confirmed dramatic improvements across all areas of school life. It found that the school's 'praise culture' - including its regular Proud Day where pupils receive a certificate and a small reward for showing their work to staff and special visitors - allows pupils' achievements to be celebrated.
Trust response
Dean Buckley, associate senior executive principal with NET, said: "Headlines can sometimes paint an incomplete picture, and it is important to look beyond the headline figures to understand the wider context.
"Unauthorised absence does not necessarily equate to truancy; there can be a range of reasons why an absence is recorded as unauthorised, including situations where a parent or carer chooses not to send their child to school.
"While attendance remains an important priority, it is encouraging that absence is improving rapidly at both schools. It is also important to consider this alongside the wider picture of school performance."
He added: "Both Denton Community Academy and Buile Hill Academy have made significant progress since joining Northern Education Trust and are now delivering consistently strong GCSE outcomes.
"The national attendance figures were released alongside performance data showing how schools performed in their recent GCSE examinations. This provides important additional context.
"At Buile Hill Academy, Salford, 51% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths, compared with 16% two years ago. The school is in the top third of schools across Greater Manchester and among the top 28% across the North West.
"At Denton Community Academy, Tameside, 57% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths, up from 26% before it joined the trust. The school is now the highest performing non selective school in Tameside, and in the top sixth of schools in the North West. These results were achieved with the largest Year 11 cohort in the borough, comprising 283 pupils.
"Attendance remains a key focus for both schools, but a balanced assessment should recognise the progress being made, the improving attendance picture and the strong academic outcomes pupils are achieving. The wider evidence demonstrates that both schools are making significant strides in providing better educational opportunities for their communities."
Wider context
The figures, recently published by the Department for Education, show that the rate of unauthorised absence varies widely by school. At the other end of the scale, in the list of top 20 for attendance is Trafford's Loreto Grammar School, where the rate is 0.2%, making it the third best in England. Schools with fewer than 300 pupils have been excluded from the analysis.
