A large majority of schools had attendance of more than 90 per cent this week as pupils and staff returned to full-time education after summer and the Covid-19 lockdown.
An NAHT school leaders’ union survey of members found that 92 per cent reported pupil attendance of 81 per cent or higher with 82 per cent of leaders reporting attendance of 91-100 per cent.
The union’s general secretary Paul Whiteman praised schools for being able to open this week “despite government U-turns and last-minute changes”.
Pupils being quarantined following holidays, still being on holiday or feeling unwell with illness unrelated to Covid-19 were the most common reasons cited for absences in the survey.
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The NAHT survey also found that 99.7 per cent of schools have reopened at the start of the autumn term 2020.
Mr Whiteman said: “It’s great to see that so many young people are back in the classroom, with their teachers and with their friends.
“School leaders and their teams worked incredibly hard over the summer to get ready for the new term.
“Despite the government’s U-turns and last-minute changes, schools have stuck to their task and their efforts have clearly given confidence to parents and families.”
The NAHT survey found that reasons for pupil absence were as follows:
- Pupils are quarantining following a trip abroad (57 per cent)
- Pupils are still away on holiday (50 per cent)
- Pupils are unwell (non-coronavirus-related) (41 per cent)
