Data set from Pupil absence in schools in England

Absence by pupil characteristics - autumn and spring terms combined

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Absence information by pupil characteristics including SEN provision, free school meal (FSM) eligibility, language, year group, sex and ethnicity

Data set details

Theme
Pupils and schools
Publication
Pupil absence in schools in England
Release type
Number of rows
225,134
Geographic levels
Local authority, National, Regional
Indicators
  • Authorised absence rate
  • Authorised absence rate exact
  • Number of authorised absence sessions
  • Number of authorised absence sessions for persistent absentees
  • Number of authorised holiday sessions
  • Number of authorised other sessions
  • Number of authorised reasons sessions
  • Number of excluded sessions
  • Number of extended authorised holiday sessions
  • Number of illness sessions
  • Number of late sessions
  • Number of medical appointments sessions
  • Number of no reason yet sessions
  • Number of overall absence sessions
  • Number of overall absence sessions for persistent absentees
  • Number of overall reasons sessions
  • Number of persistent absentees (10% missed)
  • Number of pupil enrolments
  • Number of religious observance sessions
  • Number of sessions possible
  • Number of sessions possible for persistent absentees
  • Number of sessions recorded as exceptional circumstances
  • Number of sessions recorded as not attending due to COVID circumstances
  • Number of severe absentees (50% missed)
  • Number of study leave sessions
  • Number of traveller sessions
  • Number of unauthorised absence sessions
  • Number of unauthorised absence sessions for persistent absentees
  • Number of unauthorised holiday sessions
  • Number of unauthorised other sessions
  • Number of unauthorised reasons sessions
  • Overall absence rate
  • Overall absence rate exact
  • Percentage of persistent absentees (10% missed)
  • Percentage of severe absentees (50% missed)
  • Rate of sessions recorded as not attending due to COVID circumstances
  • Unauthorised absence rate
  • Unauthorised absence rate exact
Filters
  • Characteristic
  • School type
Time period
2016/17 Autumn and spring term to 2023/24 Autumn and spring term

Data set preview

Table showing first 5 rows, from underlying data
time_periodtime_identifiergeographic_levelcountry_codecountry_nameregion_coderegion_nameold_la_codenew_la_codela_nameeducation_phasecharacteristiccharacteristic_breakdownenrolmentssess_possiblesess_overallsess_authorisedsess_unauthorisedsess_overall_percentsess_authorised_percentsess_unauthorised_percentenrolments_pa_10_exactenrolments_pa_10_exact_percentsess_possible_pa_10_exactsess_overall_pa_10_exactsess_authorised_pa_10_exactsess_unauthorised_pa_10_exactsess_overall_percent_pa_10_exactsess_authorised_percent_pa_10_exactsess_unauthorised_percent_pa_10_exactenrolments_pa_50_exactenrolments_pa_50_exact_percentsess_auth_illnesssess_auth_appointmentssess_auth_religioussess_auth_studysess_auth_travellersess_auth_holidaysess_auth_ext_holidaysess_auth_excludedsess_auth_othersess_auth_totalreasonssess_unauth_holidaysess_unauth_latesess_unauth_othersess_unauth_noyetsess_unauth_totalreasonssess_overall_totalreasonssess_x_covidsess_y_exceptionalsess_x_covid_rate
202324Autumn and spring termLocal authorityE92000001EnglandE12000003Yorkshire and The Humber381E08000033CalderdaleSpecialFirst LanguageFirst language known or believed to English39188257729465087868.26457.373920.8905811128.38875233874584407850619.6006317.437042.163651.27877393959800070z12877549633213310905746070z640z
202324Autumn and spring termLocal authorityE92000001EnglandE12000003Yorkshire and The Humber381E08000033CalderdaleTotalFirst LanguageFirst language unclassified46102859556443119.285376.261553.023821430.43478276467340127224.3487714.507969.8408148.69565412342000z731236442972741311955z38z
202324Autumn and spring termLocal authorityE92000001EnglandE12000003Yorkshire and The Humber382E08000034KirkleesState-funded primaryFirst LanguageFirst language known or believed to English238255586598286981218555684265.136953.912131.22482319813.42288706078124515848883962717.6347412.022475.612271710.7177318280614374871152631z2455161862185552734085003171087668426286981z6562z
202324Autumn and spring termLocal authorityE92000001EnglandE12000003Yorkshire and The Humber383E08000035LeedsSpecialFirst LanguageFirst language known or believed to be other than English2375701380545819223514.126610.206443.920169439.662452166566594651200830.7362121.467819.26841187.594943766804180060z81163581951526214233522358054z480z
202324Autumn and spring termLocal authorityE92000001EnglandE12000003Yorkshire and The Humber383E08000035LeedsState-funded secondaryFirst LanguageFirst language known or believed to English4014996700779405984501114904879.726894.654685.072211034325.76154235960669594526833242761329.4941211.371918.1222221335.31271308337257283761404331143z410947199645011134647275444234854811490487940598z23953z

Variables in this data set

Table showing all 40 variables
Variable nameVariable description
characteristic_breakdownCharacteristic - Filter by characteristic
education_phaseSchool type - Filter by school type - Total includes primary, secondary and special
enrolmentsNumber of pupil enrolments
enrolments_pa_10_exactNumber of persistent absentees (10% missed)
enrolments_pa_10_exact_percentPercentage of persistent absentees (10% missed)
enrolments_pa_50_exactNumber of severe absentees (50% missed)
enrolments_pa_50_exact_percentPercentage of severe absentees (50% missed)
sess_auth_appointmentsNumber of medical appointments sessions
sess_auth_excludedNumber of excluded sessions
sess_auth_ext_holidayNumber of extended authorised holiday sessions
sess_auth_holidayNumber of authorised holiday sessions
sess_auth_illnessNumber of illness sessions
sess_auth_otherNumber of authorised other sessions
sess_auth_religiousNumber of religious observance sessions
sess_auth_studyNumber of study leave sessions
sess_auth_totalreasonsNumber of authorised reasons sessions
sess_auth_travellerNumber of traveller sessions
sess_authorisedNumber of authorised absence sessions
sess_authorised_pa_10_exactNumber of authorised absence sessions for persistent absentees
sess_authorised_percentAuthorised absence rate
sess_authorised_percent_pa_10_exactAuthorised absence rate exact
sess_overallNumber of overall absence sessions
sess_overall_pa_10_exactNumber of overall absence sessions for persistent absentees
sess_overall_percentOverall absence rate
sess_overall_percent_pa_10_exactOverall absence rate exact
sess_overall_totalreasonsNumber of overall reasons sessions
sess_possibleNumber of sessions possible
sess_possible_pa_10_exactNumber of sessions possible for persistent absentees
sess_unauth_holidayNumber of unauthorised holiday sessions
sess_unauth_lateNumber of late sessions
sess_unauth_noyetNumber of no reason yet sessions
sess_unauth_otherNumber of unauthorised other sessions
sess_unauth_totalreasonsNumber of unauthorised reasons sessions
sess_unauthorisedNumber of unauthorised absence sessions
sess_unauthorised_pa_10_exactNumber of unauthorised absence sessions for persistent absentees
sess_unauthorised_percentUnauthorised absence rate
sess_unauthorised_percent_pa_10_exactUnauthorised absence rate exact
sess_x_covidNumber of sessions recorded as not attending due to COVID circumstances
sess_x_covid_rateRate of sessions recorded as not attending due to COVID circumstances
sess_y_exceptionalNumber of sessions recorded as exceptional circumstances

Footnotes

  1. Total includes state-funded primary, secondary and special schools. Data for special schools is available from 2016/17 to present.
  2. Sessions recorded as not attending due to COVID circumstances are included as possible sessions in 2020/21 and 2021/22 only, but not as an absence within absence rates.
  3. From 2023/24 the school census data item ‘sex’ replaced ‘gender’. Historical use of the word “gender” in the data collection may have meant that “gender identity” was reported in some cases, as opposed to legal sex. While this is unlikely to have a significant effect on overall figures, it may affect figures in more granular subdivisions. Time-series in this publication prior to spring 2023 which contained gender as a category may be affected.
  4. EHC plans – A pupil has an EHC plan when a formal assessment has been made. A document is in place that sets out the child’s need and the extra help they should receive. EHC plans were introduced in September 2014 replacing Statements of SEN, with these being phased out by April 2018. This category therefore includes Statements of SEN for the years up to 2018.
  5. SEN support - From 2015, the School Action and School Action Plus categories were combined to form one category of SEN support. Extra or different help is given from that provided as part of the school’s usual curriculum. The class teacher and special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO) may receive advice or support from outside specialists. The pupil does not have an Education, Health and Care plan.

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Contact us

If you have a specific enquiry about Absence by pupil characteristics - autumn and spring terms combined statistics and data:

Attendance and exclusions statistics team

Email: schools.statistics@education.gov.uk
Contact name: Attendance and exclusions statistics team