Unauthorised absences continue to rise
New data for the autumn of 2017 and spring of 2018 shows the rate of unauthorised absence from primary and secondary schools was 1.2% over the period, up from 1.1% in the same period the previous year.
The increase is due to a rise in the number of unauthorised holidays and other unauthorised circumstances, the Government said.
The absence rate for schools overall was 4.7%, up from 4.5% in the same period the previous year.
Illness is still the main driver of pupil absence, accounting for 60% of all absence in autumn 2017 and spring 2018, down from 60.1% the previous year.
The proportion of sessions missed as a result of unauthorised family holidays remains stable at 0.3% this year, but the proportion of pupils who missed at least one session because of a family holiday rose from 9.4% to 9.6%.
This year, Schools North East reported that unauthorised absences in North East schools was at an all-time high.
Use the table below to look at absence rates over the last four years in your area. Clicking the arrow to the right of the “LA” and “Phase” headings then selecting “Filter” will allow you to focus on different geographies and stages of education. Only one area should be looked at at once or the data may not display correctly.
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