Of the many harmful legacies left by the Covid-19 pandemic, we can clearly see the impact on the economy, the backlogs in our hospitals, and the disruption to examinations. But a more hidden though no-less troubling legacy has been the increase in children’s absence from schools. 

Department for Education figures, recently reported by Tes, suggest that overall absence in the 2022 autumn term was 7.8 per cent. Absences stood at 6.5 per cent in state-funded primary schools, 9.3 per cent in state secondaries and 13.5 per cent in state special schools. This compares with an overall absence rate of just 4.9 per cent in autumn 2019, just before the pandemic hit. 

Last week we received a timely reminder that illness is just one factor that turns children away from their education.

A report by The Key, which surveyed more than 68,000 pupils, found that one in 10 children missed school in the past six months because they felt “unsafe” around their peers. The survey also found that a higher number of children feel safer online than in school. 

What the data tells us 

It is universally accepted that time spent away from face-to-face education is one of the biggest indicators that a child will fall behind and underachieve. This, of course, has long-lasting effects on their life chances. 

At the same time, we know that attendance can vary dramatically between different groups and backgrounds. In autumn 2021, 33.6 per cent of pupils who were eligible for free school meals were persistently absent (meaning they missed 10 per cent or more of sessions). By contrast, persistent absence was 20 per cent among pupils who were not eligible.  

Gypsy Roma pupils and pupils of Irish Traveller heritage had the highest rates of persistent absence in autumn 2021 (55.7 per cent and 63.3 per cent respectively). Black African and Chinese pupils had the lowest rates (10.8 per cent and 9.9 per cent).  

There is a marked difference between regions in the country too. Inner London had the lowest percentage of persistent absentees (19 per cent) and the South West had the highest (26 per cent).  

Furthermore, 30.6 per cent of pupils who receive support for special educational needs and disabilities were persistently absent in autumn 2021, compared with 21.5 per cent for pupils who are not identified with SEND. 

Focusing on the issues

In too many cases, MPs hear that children are being removed from schools because they or their parents feel their needs are not being met. Off-rolling is rightly banned and Ofsted takes a dim view of any sign of it. But in too many cases it appears that children may start to miss school because their parents believe their needs can be better met elsewhere, but then fail to return over long periods of time. 

Looking for ways to improve attendance would be a good idea at any point in time, but it feels particularly timely now. That’s why the cross-party Commons Education Select Committee, which I chair, has launched a new inquiry into the causes of persistent absence, and will draw on the experiences of headteachers, charities and other experts to look for solutions. 

Together we will study whether providing breakfast clubs, free meals, after-school or holiday activities and other measures can help reverse this damaging trend. 

Our committee will also investigate the government’s proposals to improve schools’ data collection on attendance and to introduce a new national framework for the use of fines for absence.  

During my time as schools minister, I was proud to chair the Attendance Action Alliance, which brought together all the different groups with a part to play in reducing absence and bolstering attendance.

We looked at some of the examples of best practice among local authorities and school trusts where attendance had been improved and worked hand in hand with the children’s commissioner, whose surveys made clear that the vast majority of children wanted to be in school.

In the aftermath of the period of school closures, there was a drive to get children back into school, but that drive is no less urgent today. 

The last few years have seen a worrying trend of children missing more school than ever before. In the year ahead, colleagues and I will work with experts and professionals throughout the education sector to reverse that trend. 

Robin Walker is chair of the Commons Education Select Committee and former minister for school standards