Unauthorised absence rates remain “stubbornly high” despite the introduction of increased fines, according to analysis published today.
In September, parental fines for pupil absence were raised for the first time since 2012, from £120 to £160, if paid within 28 days. The fine goes down to £80 if paid within 21 days.
But since the start of this academic year, unauthorised absence rates at secondary have been at 2.9 per cent, up slightly from 2.8 per cent in the same period last year, according to FFT Education Datalab. In primary schools, the rate is unchanged from last year at 1.6 per cent.
Severe absence up and persistent absence down
Severe absence rates (pupils missing 50 per cent or more sessions) have increased slightly, both at primary and secondary.
Severe absence in primary schools from September to the end of October this year was 0.8 per cent - up from 0.7 per cent at the same point last year. In secondary schools, it rose from 3.4 to 3.8 per cent.
Persistent absence (missing 10 per cent or more sessions) reduced slightly from the same period last year, with a more noticeable drop at primary than secondary level.
In primary schools, persistent absenteeism went down from 16.2 per cent to 14.7 per cent, and in secondary schools it fell slightly from 26.5 per cent to 26.2 per cent.
The main driver of this small reduction for secondary pupils is a drop of around 10 per cent in absence recorded as illness, according to FFT Datalab.
Unauthorised absence remaining ‘stubbornly high’
FFT statistician Katie Beynon said: “The small reduction in absence at secondary this year will likely be welcome news. Unauthorised absence remaining stubbornly high will be less welcome, particularly as this is the type of absence targeted by newly increased fines.
“With the approaching winter likely to bring large amounts of illness-related absence, we’ll have to wait and see whether these early patterns hold for the rest of the term.”
The analysis notes that some absences currently recorded as unauthorised will change to one of the other categories, as schools follow up reasons for absence in the most recent weeks.
Overall persistent and severe absence remain much higher than pre-pandemic, particularly at secondary level, the analysis observes. Each year group broadly mirrors the general picture.
Primary pupils have missed roughly the same percentage of sessions (4.8 per cent) so far this year as they did by the same point last year, while secondary students have missed slightly fewer (from 7.6 down to 7.4 per cent)
Investment in support services ‘crucial’
The data comes from the attendance registers of around 2,500 secondary and 6,000 primary schools subscribing to FFT’s Attendance Tracker.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary at the NAHT headteachers’ union, said school leaders remain particularly concerned about those pupils who are “severely” absent and missing school on a very regular basis.
He said: “In these cases especially, local areas need dedicated and specialist teams and resources to work directly with pupils who may be facing particularly complex challenges which act as a barrier to attendance. Mental health, for example, is a particular issue, and timely support from specialist mental health professionals is needed.
“New investment in these services will be crucial in order to help schools further improve attendance and ensure pupils do not miss out on their education.”
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