Excellence in infographics

From The Detail, an investigative journalism site in Northern Ireland, an excellent example of the kind of data analysis that can be produced from the details of a simple Freedom of Information request:

Is there poor pupil attendance at your local schools?

Kathryn Torney's piece looks at the different levels of pupil attendance in primary and secondary schools, with a fine graphic and some interesting analysis.

One issue raised is the problem of attendance in schools with a large intake from the traveller community.

There's also mention of some constructive attempts to overcome attendance problems:

• Kilcooley Primary School in Bangor runs an incentive scheme with certificates for full attendance each month, certificates for best class attendance each term and a cinema ticket for full attendance all year.

• Corpus Christi College in Belfast worked with Bombardier to reward pupils with 100% attendance each term with a flight around Northern Ireland. Over the course of the year around 300 boys were rewarded with the flight.