This is the first article to evaluate OfSTED reports on the management of attendance within secondary schools. Two hundred and twenty-seven OfSTED reports undertaken on secondary schools inspected during 2003 were scrutinised. These data were broken down and analysed using four distinct areas for investigation. These were: statistical data; regional variations; good practice; and poor practice. For the regional analysis, the selected regions were: the south west; the London area; central and north midlands; the north east; and the rest of England. It is manifestly clear from the evidence that OfSTED gives close attention to a school's official statistical rates of attendance in making their judgements about a school; not only in terms of attendance per se but also in relation to attainment and standards issues. In part, this can significantly influence the outcome of a school's inspection as well as having a crucial bearing on the content of the published report.