Head’s Blog: The secret to a longer and happier life?

September means back to school and – for many teachers and students – it’s also when we catch our first cold of the new school year. Try as we might, dodging colds seems like a futile exercise at this time of year – I certainly haven’t escaped!

In truth catching a cold is an inconvenience, but nothing more. To some extent it helps improve our immune system. Covid is also doing the rounds at this time of year and government advice to school children is to avoid school for the first three days after a positive test.

When we feel unwell there is always the temptation to take time off school. But, if in doubt, we should always get into school if we can. Why? Because the evidence shows that students who attend more days of school usually, get better grades, earn more money and live longer and healthier lives.

That may sound overly simplistic, but the pattern is well established. At Fearnhill in Y11 last year, the students with over 95% attendance achieved on  average one grade higher in each subject than students with under 90% attendance. This mirrors what happens nationally. More days off school results in lower exam grades.

Research has been carried out in various countries on the link between exam grades and lifetime earnings. In the UK, a study of students who took their GCSEs between 2002-2005, showed that achieving one grade higher in each subject earned them, on average, an additional £200,000 over their working lives. Again, a similar pattern repeats all over the world.

Finally, there is a well established link between educational achievement, lifespan and health.  Students with better grades, go on to earn more money and live longer healthier lives. A simple Google search allows you to find examples of this research for yourself.

As parents we all want the best for our own children, and often the best thing we can do for them when they feel under the weather is to encourage them to keep going and get to school anyway, because – silly as it may sound – it really will make a longer and happier life for our children more likely.

Tim Spencer, Headteacher