There are encouraging signs that students are heading back to school across the country.

New figures show daily attendance reached as high as 84 percent in the first week of Term Three, following lower attendance rates last term.

Secondary Principals' Association President Vaughan Couillault told Mike Hosking many schools had been struggling with student disengagement.

He says there is some serious disengagement by senior students who need to work, to help support their families.

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