Covid-related pupil absence has more than tripled in two weeks, as cases soar nationally.
The Department for Education’s latest attendance data, published today, reveals that Covid-related pupil absence in all state-funded schools rose from 58,000 on 3 March (0.7 per cent) to 202,000 (2.5 per cent) on 17 March.
Covid-related pupil absences rose faster in primary settings, increasing by 264 per cent (from 33,200 to 120,900) in just a fortnight.
However, Covid-related pupil absences also rose at secondary level from 23,200 to 73,700.
The data also revealed that almost one in 10 teachers and school leaders (48,000) were absent for any reason on 17 March.
This figure has risen by 55 per cent in two weeks, compared with 3 March, when 31,000 (5.8 per cent) were absent.
The breakdown for the number of teachers absent due to Covid-related reasons was not provided.
The number of settings with a large proportion of absent staff in all state-funded schools also rose.
Data revealed 23 per cent of settings had more than 15 per cent of their teachers and school leaders absent for any reason on 17 March, up from 11 per cent on 3 March.
And 37 per cent of all state-funded schools had up to 5 per cent of their teachers and school leaders absent for any reason on 17 March, down from 57 per cent two weeks ago.
Schools sending year groups home once again
Last week, Tes reported that schools across the country were once again sending year groups home due to high staff absence and lack of access to supply.
Tweeting soon after the release of the data this afternoon, education secretary Nadhim Zahawi said we are “living with” and “managing” the virus.
However, his comment has faced backlash from teachers and school leaders, with primary school teacher Shannen Doherty writing in response to Zahawi’s words: “I think ‘coping’ would even be a stretch. Staff absence due to being ill with covid is drowning some schools.”
The last attendance data release, published two weeks ago and looking at 3 March, revealed school attendance was at its highest since last May.
On 3 March, the total number of pupils absent from all state-funded schools because of Covid-related reasons was 58,016 (0.7 per cent), down from 2.2 per cent on 10 February.
The previous gap in attendance data was due to the half term break.
The new data also revealed that Covid-related pupil absence fell below 1 per cent for the first time since July of last year.
However, headteachers’ leaders warned, at the time, that schools were “not out of the woods yet”.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said today’s statistics “chime” with what the union is hearing from schools.
“Once again, many are seeing very severe disruption caused by Covid, with high levels of both pupil and staff absence.”
Mr Barton also said that the picture of increased attendance earlier this month proved to be a “false dawn” and that the latest wave of disruption comes as students prepare for exams.
“It is very clear that the government must, as an absolute minimum, continue to make available free Covid testing for education settings after 1 April, and that it must extend and simplify financial assistance for the cost of supply cover beyond the end of this term when the current scheme is due to end.”
