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Brainhub guide

How to read your child’s end-of-year school report

Schools must send a written report by the end of the summer term. What it must include, how to read the attendance line and what to ask.

Written by the Brainhub Editorial Team Cites published research Updated 31 Oct 2026 5 min read

Key takeaways

1. Why this week

Headteachers must send parents a written report by the end of each summer term, so most reports arrive in July. A few minutes reading it carefully can shape a useful summer and a better start in September.[1]

2. What every report includes

GOV.UK sets out what the report must cover. Some schools split it across the year, for example a short report each term.[1]

General progress

How your child is getting on, usually subject by subject.

Achievements

Brief notes on strengths and on what to develop next.

Attendance

Your child’s attendance record for the year.

Test results

Any national tests, such as Year 6 SATs, and GCSE grades in Year 11.

3. Read the attendance line

A pupil who misses 10% or more of possible sessions counts as persistently absent. So 90% attendance, which sounds high, means missing about one day in every ten.[2]

In 2024/25, 18.14% of pupils in England were persistently absent, and the overall absence rate was 6.78%.[2]

If your child’s figure is below 90%, ask the school what support they can offer. Many absences are unavoidable, and schools would rather talk early.

4. Three questions to ask

Every report must say how to arrange a discussion with a teacher. These three questions get the most from it.[1]

Read it together, then plan one thing.
Question
Why it helps
What is going well?
Start with strengths, and tell your child what you noticed.
Where exactly are the gaps?
Ask which topics, not just which subjects.
What can we do at home?
One or two small things over the summer, not a long list.

5. How you can help

Read the report on your own first, then with your child. Praise effort before grades. Pick one area to work on over the summer and keep it light: twenty minutes a few times a week is plenty. Reports use their own words, such as “working towards” or “greater depth”, so ask the teacher if a term is unclear.

A clear next step: Our qualified teachers can turn a report into a short, friendly summer plan, online or in person. Book a free call.

Try it now

Test yourself on this page

Answer in your head first, then check.

  1. 1. By when must schools send a written report?

  2. 2. What attendance counts as persistent absence?

  3. 3. What share of pupils were persistently absent in 2024/25?

Your next steps

  • Read the report on your own first.
  • Talk it through with your child, strengths first.
  • Choose one thing to work on over the summer.

Sources

  1. GOV.UK. School reports on pupil performance: guide for headteachers (updated 8 May 2024). gov.uk/guidance/school-reports-on-pupil-performance-guide-for-headteachers
  2. DfE. Pupil absence in schools in England, academic year 2024/25 (published 26 March 2026). explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/pupil-absence-in-schools-in-england/2024-25

This guide is general study advice. Every student is different. A teacher can help you work out what fits.