RCELI
Pupils
Schools/Trusts
Published
2.24.2026

Mind the Engagement Gap: A National Study of Pupil Engagement in England’s Schools

A national study of over 81,000 pupils examining how engagement shifts across primary and secondary school — and why it matters as an early indicator of attendance, behaviour and attainment.

Author
Professor John Jerrim

What to expect

    • A sharp decline in engagement at transition to secondary school, particularly in Year 7.
      Secondary pupils report lower enjoyment, safety and inclusion than primary peers.
      Strong links between pupil engagement, attendance and teacher engagement.
  • underlineunderline
    Join now

    Ready to join the TEP community?

    underlineunderline

    Download PDF

    Thank you! Your submission has been received!
    Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.