School attendance is consistently falling short of Ministry of Education benchmarks. 

Attendance hasn't surpassed 85% since May 15th, meanwhile Friday attendance hasn't exceeded 83% all year.  

Only 15% of students last year reached the benchmark of being in class more than 90% of the time.  

Canterbury's Darfield High School Principal Andy England told Mike Hosking that trade academies operating on a Friday have nearly 100% attendance.  

He says the trades academies are clear you have to be there to pass the course, so that's an example of where black and white rules can really help. 

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