North East continues to face high levels of persistent absences
School attendance statistics released this week by the Department for Education highlight the circuit-breaker effect of the half-term holidays on infection rates. Coronavirus related pupil absence in all state-funded schools was 1.6% on the 11th November, down from 3.2% on 21st October. Attendance in all state-funded schools was 91.5% on the 11th November, up from 88.2% on the 21st October.
While it is encouraging that Covid-related disruption is reducing, these attendance rates are below what schools are normally used to at this time of year. Research from the FFT Education Datalab this week shows the significant increase in persistent absences this year in secondary schools, in comparison to 2019.
14.3% of secondary pupils have missed at least 20% of sessions so far this year, the equivalent of at least a day a week. Excluding COVID-isolation absences, this figure is 10.3% – still more than double the 4.7% seen in Autumn term 2019. Absence rates are higher in older year groups.
The Datalab’s research also looks at regional variations. Pupils in London secondary schools were by far the least likely to have missed large amounts of school, with 9.5% of pupils missing at least 20% of sessions and 3.8% missing at least 30% of sessions. By contrast, pupils were most likely to miss at least 20% of sessions in the South West, and to miss at least 30% in the North East. The Datalab also looked into absences at primary school, with London again seeing the lowest levels of persistent absences, but with the West and East Midlands seeing the highest rates.
Additionally, the research showed the higher rates of persistent absences amongst disadvantaged students, and those students with special education needs (SEN) (at both primary and secondary). Particularly worrying is the proportion of SEN pupils with an EHCP who have missed at least 50% of sessions. At secondary, 7.1% were in this bracket – five times as many as pupils with no SEN (1.4%).
These high rates of disruption to education in the North East, as well as for those in disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, follow on from similarly high rates of Covid-related absences at the end of the summer term in our region. This is putting significant pressure on schools, stretching staff to capacity as they manage absences and delivery of ‘catch-up’ alongside the regular curriculum.
Last week, we wrote to the Secretary of State for Education to take immediate action to reduce the pressure on schools, to prevent staff burnout and an exacerbation of teacher recruitment and retention. You can read the letter here.