Turning up: an exploration of compulsory and assessed attendance in medical schools

Under GMC requirements, proof of engagement with studies is necessary for medical students to pass their university course. Many universities measure this by imposing mandatory and assessed attendance on their sessions, for instance, requiring an 80% attendance rate to pass the year. This is a potentially harmful and unnecessary stressor for many students, forcing them to conform to different learning styles in sessions they are obligated to attend. It can also be seen to incentivise attendance regardless of their health. Research is conflicted as to the benefits and drawbacks of enforcing student attendance, but an issue which affects the whole of the medical curriculum warrants close inspection and evaluation.