To give everyone a sense of what attendance percentages actually mean see if this makes sense:

 

96% (national av.)           1 and 1/2 weeks off school in a year

95%                                 2 weeks off

90%                                 A month off school

80%                                 A day a week off school on average - two                                                   whole months off in total!

 

Over the course of a primary school career, expected attendance would lead to around 10 weeks off school in total.

 

80% attendance over a primary school career would result in over 1 and a half YEARS off school!