Autumn term 2023/24

Pupil absence in schools in England

This is the latest data

• Published: 16 May 2024
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This National Statistics release looks at pupil absence in the Autumn term 2023/24, including by reason and school types, derived from the school census.

Experimental official statistics produced from daily data submitted automatically by schools to the Department are available in the Pupil attendance in schools publication. Due to the timeliness of the data and that they are based on a subset of schools, those figures are estimates that we expect to change as registers are adjusted. They should be viewed as an early indicator for the data provided in later National Statistics releases.

This release is derived from the school census from which further analysis, such as school level absence rates and additional characteristics, can be produced unlike the daily data.

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Headline facts and figures - 2023/24

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Overall absence

The absence rate is the total number of sessions missed due to absence for all pupils as a percentage of the total number of possible sessions for all pupils. One session is equal to half a day. 

Overall absence rates decreased compared to the previous Autumn term

6.7% of possible sessions were recorded as absence in Autumn term 2023/24, a decrease from 7.5% in Autumn 2022/23. Pre-pandemic overall absence rates were consistently below 5%. 

Authorised absence decreased, while unauthorised absence increased

Authorised absence has decreased from 5.4% in Autumn 2022/23 to 4.5% in Autumn 2023/24. Unauthorised absence has increased slightly, from 2.1% to 2.2% over the same period.

Absence decreased across all school types

Overall absence:

• decreased in primary schools from 6.3% in Autumn 2022/23 to 5.3% in Autumn 2023/24
• decreased in secondary schools from 8.8% to 8.1%
• decreased in special schools from 13.4% to 12.7%

Each of these school types had a decrease in authorised absence and an increase in unauthorised absence.

The most common reason for absence was illness

The majority of absence was due to illness, which accounted for 3.5% of possible sessions. This was a reduction from 4.5% in Autumn term 2022/23, but higher than the pre-pandemic long-term trend of below 3%.

Most other reasons show similar absence rates to the previous autumn term.

Comparisons across years affected by the COVID-19 pandemic should be treated with caution.  During 2020/21 and 2021/22, not attending in circumstances related to coronavirus (COVID-19), marked as code X, has not been counted as an absence, but has been included as a possible session in the calculation of absence rates. This has included where pupils were self-isolating, shielding, and when a class or bubble has been required to stay at home.  From April 2022, in line with our transition to living with COVID-19, schools were no longer advised to record pupils who did not attend for reasons related to COVID-19 using a separate code (Code X).

Persistent absence

A pupil enrolment is identified as persistently absent if  10% or more of possible sessions are missed, and severely absent if 50% or more of possible sessions are missed. 

10% of sessions translates to around 7 days of absence across the term.

The rate of persistent absence has decreased

The number of persistently absent pupils decreased from 1.7 million in Autumn 2022/23 to 1.4 million in Autumn 2023/24.

This equates to 19.4% of pupils who were persistently absent in Autumn 2023/24; a decrease from 24.2% in Autumn 2022/23. Before the pandemic, in 2018/19, the persistent absence rate was 10.9%   

Illness is a major component of persistent absence with 7.8% of all pupils missing 10% or more sessions due to illness alone.

The rate of severe absence has increased

2.0% of pupil enrolments were severely absent in Autumn 2023/24, an increase from 1.7% in Autumn 2022/23. This equates to 142,000 pupil enrolments who were severely absent, increased from 125,000.

Persistent absence rates have decreased, and severe absence rates have increased, across all school types

The decrease in the rate of persistent absentees was seen in all school types: 

• in primary schools, a decrease from 20.9% in Autumn 2022/23 to 15.4% in Autumn 2023/24
• in secondary schools, a decrease from 27.4% to 23.4%
• in special schools, a decrease from 40.9% to 36.2%

The rate of pupils with severe absence increased in all school types:

• in primary schools an increase from 0.7% in Autumn 2022/23 to 0.8% in Autumn 2023/24
• in secondary schools an increase from 2.8% to 3.1%
• in special schools an increase from 5.8% to 6.2%

Please note: these pupils were recorded on the school census as being on the roll of a school, and had possible sessions recorded during the academic year. For information on the number of children who are not in education, please see: Children missing education

Absence in state-funded alternative provision

Absence in state-funded alternative provision has increased

The overall absence rate in state-funded alternative provision (including pupil referral units) has increased from 39.8% in Autumn 2022/23 to 40.7% in Autumn 2023/24. Authorised absence has decreased slightly during this period from 22.2% to 22.1%, while unauthorised absence has increased from 17.7% to 18.6%.

Geographical variations

Absence rates vary across regions

Overall absence varies from 5.9% in London to 7.5% in the North East.

Persistent absence varies from 17.3% in London to 22.9% in the North East.

The map below displays absence rates by local authority.

Further absence and attendance data sources

Data by pupil characteristics

Further absence data by pupil characteristics, including year group, gender, free school meal eligibility, special educational needs and ethnicity is expected to be added in July 2024.

The most recent data covering these topics is included in the full academic year 2022/23 publication, available under ‘Releases in this series’ in the right hand pane.

Pupil attendance in schools (official statistics in development)

Official statistics in development produced from daily data submitted automatically by schools to the Department are available in the Pupil attendance in schools publication. Due to the timeliness of the data and that they are based on a subset of schools, the figures are estimates that we expect to change as registers are adjusted. They should be viewed as an early indicator for the data provided in later national statistics releases.

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Methodology

Find out how and why we collect, process and publish these statistics.

• Pupil absence statistics: methodology

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These accredited official statistics have been independently reviewed by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). They comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics. Accredited official statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.

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• managed impartially and objectively in the public interest
• meet identified user needs
• produced according to sound methods
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Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR).

OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to.

You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk or via the OSR website.

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If you have a specific enquiry about Pupil absence in schools in England statistics and data:

School absence and exclusions team

Email: schools.statistics@education.gov.uk
Contact name: Dean Franklin

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