According to the latest data, 10 local authorities had non-attendance rates owing to coronavirus that were almost double the national average during the autumn term.
The period saw 60 per cent of pupils miss some sessions because of Covid. The national rate of sessions not attended owing to circumstances related to coronavirus was 7 per cent.
This figure includes pupils self-isolating and shielding - including when a class or bubble was required to stay home - according to new data published today by the Department for Education.
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In these cases, schools were expected to provide immediate access to remote education.
But, while a regional analysis does not reveal major differences in the rate of sessions missed as a result of Covid, a breakdown by local authority shows that there have been stark differences in the way the pandemic disrupted school routines last autumn.
While 27 local authorities were right on the national average at 7 per cent, 10 other local authorities showed much higher rates, at 13 per cent and 12 per cent.
These are:
13%
13%
13%
13%
13%
12%
12%
12%
12%
12%
At the other end, eight local authorities had a rate of missed sessions owing to Covid that was half that of the national average.
These are:
3%
3%
3%
3%
3%
3%
3%
3%
To see the full list of local authorities and their rates of non-attendance because of Covid-related circumstances, click here.
