This publication provides information on the levels of overall, authorised and unauthorised absence in state-funded:

• primary schools
• secondary schools
• special schools

State-funded schools receive funding through their local authority or direct from the government.

It includes daily, weekly and year-to-date information on attendance and absence, in addition to reasons for absence. The release uses regular data automatically submitted to the Department for Education by participating schools.

The attached page includes links to attendance statistics published since September 2022.

This release provides information on the levels of overall, authorised and unauthorised absence in:

• state-funded primary schools
• state-funded secondary schools
• state-funded special schools

It includes information on:

• reasons for absence
• persistent absentees
• pupil characteristics
• absence information for pupil referral units
• absence by term

The information is based on pupil level absence data collected via the school census.

A duty on local authorities to have regard to guidance issued by the Secretary of State in respect of how they use their services to improve school attendance. Subject to securing legislation, new statutory guidance will outline the minimum attendance support offer local authorities are expected to provide pupils and families in their area through existing powers, duties, and services.

Additionally, new legislation providing the Secretary of State the power to set a single national framework for issuing fixed penalty notices in respect of absence, removing the existing duty (under the Education (Penalty Notices) (England) Regulations 2007 as amended) and subsequent burden for each local authority to draw up a code of conduct for issuing penalty notices.

Absence statistics relating to the autumn term 2023 and spring term 2024.

This release provides information on the levels of overall, authorised and unauthorised absence in state-funded:

• primary schools
• secondary schools
• special schools

It includes:

• reasons for absence
• absence by pupil characteristic
• rates of persistent and severe absence

We have presented information separately on absence levels in state funded alternative provision, including pupil referral units.

The release uses pupil-level absence data that we collect in the school census.

Between March 2020 and the end of the summer term, early years settings, schools and colleges were asked to limit attendance to reduce transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19). From the beginning of the autumn term schools were asked to welcome back all pupils to school full-time. From 5 January 2021, schools were asked to provide on-site education for vulnerable children and children of critical workers only.

The data on explore education statistics shows attendance in education settings since Monday 23 March 2020, and in early years settings since Thursday 16 April 2020. The summary explains the responses for a set time frame.

The data is collected from a daily education settings status form and a weekly local authority early years survey.

Previously published data and summaries are available at attendance in education and early years settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

This release provides information on the levels of overall, authorised and unauthorised absence in:

• state-funded primary schools
• state-funded secondary schools
• state-funded special schools

It includes information on:

• reasons for absence
• persistent absentees
• pupil characteristics

Absence information for pupil referral units is based on pupil level absence data collected via the school census.

It updates and supplements information published in the October 2014 release - ‘Pupil absence in schools in England, autumn term 2013 and spring term 2014’.

A guide on how we produce pupil absence statistics is also available.

Contact details

This release provides information on the levels of overall, authorised and unauthorised absence in:

• state-funded primary schools
• state-funded secondary schools
• state-funded special schools

It includes information on:

• reasons for absence
• persistent absentees
• pupil characteristics
• absence information for pupil referral units
• absence by term

The information is based on pupil level absence data collected via the School Census.

It updates and supplements information published in the October 2019 release - Pupil absence in schools in England, autumn 2018 and spring 2019.

A guide on how we produce pupil absence statistics is also available.

This release provides information on the levels of overall, authorised and unauthorised absence in:

• state-funded primary schools
• state-funded secondary schools
• state-funded special schools

It includes information on:

• reasons for absence
• persistent absentees
• pupil characteristics
• absence information for pupil referral units
• absence by term

The information is based on pupil level absence data collected via the school census.

It updates and supplements information published in the October 2018 release Pupil absence in schools in England, autumn 2017 and spring 2018

A guide on how we produce pupil absence statistics is also available.

This release provides information on the levels of overall, authorised and unauthorised absence in:

• state-funded primary schools
• state-funded secondary schools
• special schools
• pupil referral units (these provide education for children who can’t go to a mainstream school)

It includes information on:

• reasons for absence
• persistent absence
• pupil characteristics

The release uses pupil-level absence data that we collect in the school census.

It updates and supplements information in ‘Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn term 2016’, which we published in May 2017.

Absence statistics relating to the autumn and spring terms.

It provides information on the levels of overall, authorised and unauthorised absence in:

• state-funded primary schools
• state-funded secondary schools
• state-funded special schools
• pupil referral units

It includes information on absence rates, persistent absence and pupils not attending in circumstances related to COVID-19. The release uses pupil-level absence data that we collect in the school census.

This release provides information on the levels of overall, authorised and unauthorised absence in:

• state-funded primary schools
• state-funded secondary schools
• special schools
• pupil referral units

It includes information on:

• reasons for absence
• persistent absentees
• pupil characteristics

The information is based on pupil level absence data collected via the school census.

It updates and supplements information published in the May 2018 release - ‘Pupil absence in schools in England, autumn term 2017’.

A guide on how we produce pupil absence statistics is also available.