The variety of pupils in England absent for lengthy intervals of time reached a file excessive final yr, Authorities figures counsel. Division for Schooling (DfE) information signifies that 2.3% of pupils had been “severely absent”, which implies they missed at the least 50% of potential faculty classes, in 2023/24, in contrast with 2.0% in 2022/23.
A faculty leaders’ union warned final week that some households see faculty as “optional” because the pandemic. (Unsplash)
Total, 171,269 pupils had been classed as severely absent final educational yr, up from 150,256 in 2022/23. It’s the highest quantity recorded because the present DfE information started in 2006/07. In 2018/19, the final educational yr earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic, 60,247 had been classed as severely absent.
A faculty leaders’ union warned final week that some households see faculty as “optional” because the pandemic. The newest DfE information, printed on Thursday, means that the variety of unauthorised pupil absences from colleges in England elevated final yr.
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The unauthorised absence price rose from 2.4% in 2022/23 to 2.5% in 2023/24, in accordance with the figures. In 2018/19, the speed was only one.4%. Final week, Schooling Secretary Bridget Phillipson referred to as on faculty and faculty leaders to “catch up fast” to enhance pupil attendance, as she mentioned that some colleges had been “not making enough progress” on absences.
Total, the absence price decreased from 7.4% in 2022/23 to 7.1% in 2023/24, but it surely stays increased than pre-pandemic charges of 4.7%, the information suggests. One in 5 (20.0%) of pupils in England, about 1.49 million younger individuals, had been “persistently absent” in the course of the 2023/24 faculty yr, which implies they missed 10% or extra faculty classes.
That is down from 2022/23 when 21.2% of pupils had been persistently absent, however it’s nonetheless above the speed in 2018/19 (10.9%). The previous Conservative authorities introduced plans to hike fines for pupil absences in February final yr to spice up attendance because the pandemic. In September, faculty absence fines in England rose from £60 to £80, and a dad or mum who receives a second nice for a similar youngster inside a three-year interval will now obtain a £160 nice.
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The newest information covers the final educational yr earlier than fines for unauthorised absences had been elevated. Pepe Di’Iasio, basic secretary of the Affiliation of College and School Leaders (ASCL), mentioned: “It is clear that there are still far too many children missing out on significant portions of their education. “Although there are signs of improvement in some areas, the rates of persistent and severe absence remain a real concern.” He added: “We need to accept that schools cannot solve this issue on their own and must set out clear expectations and plans for parents, government, schools and other agencies to work together in the best interests of young people. “This must be backed with funding to ensure there is sufficient capacity in the system for all children to get any additional support they require to be able to attend school on a regular basis. “Without investing in a strategic response to this issue, it is difficult to see how attendance rates are going to change at the scale required.”
In a speech in Liverpool on Saturday, Mr Di’Iasio mentioned faculty had develop into “optional” for some households because the pandemic and he added that the “blunt instrument” of fines for unauthorised absences was not reversing the development.
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