Autumn and spring term 2021/22

Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn and spring terms

Data guidance

Published 20 October 2022

Description

This document describes the data included in the ‘Pupil absence in schools in England: 2018/19’ National Statistics release’s underlying data files. This data is released under the terms of the Open Government License (opens in a new tab) and is intended to meet at least 3 stars for Open Data (opens in a new tab). The methodology should be referenced alongside this data. It provides information on the data sources, their coverage and quality as well as explaining methodology used in producing the data.

Coverage

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
pupil referral units

It includes information on:

reasons for absence
persistent absentees
pupil characteristics
absence by term

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

File formats and conventions

Rounding

This dataset has not had suppression applied.

Conventions

The following convention is used throughout the underlying data.

‘z’ Not applicable.

Data files

All data files associated with this releases are listed below with guidance on their content. To download any of these files, please visit our data catalogue.

Absence rates by geographic level - autumn and spring terms combined

Filename: 1_absence_2term_main_rates_.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2016/17 Autumn and spring term to 2021/22 Autumn and spring term
Content: Absence information for both autumn and spring term combined for all enrolments in state-funded primary, secondary and special schools including information on overall absence, persistent absence and reason for absence for pupils aged 5-15. Includes school level data.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
enrolments	Number of pupil enrolments
enrolments_pa_10_exact	Number of persistent absentees - 10% or more sessions missed
enrolments_pa_10_exact_percent	Percentage of persistent absentees - 10% or more sessions missed
enrolments_pa_50_exact	Number of persistent absentees - 50% or more sessions missed
enrolments_pa_50_exact_percent	Percentage of persistent absentees - 50% or more sessions missed
num_schools	Number of schools
school_type	School type - Filter by school type - Total includes primary, secondary and special
sess_auth_appointments	Number of medical appointments sessions
sess_auth_appointments_rate	Medical appointments rate
sess_auth_excluded	Number of excluded sessions
sess_auth_excluded_rate	Excluded rate
sess_auth_ext_holiday	Number of extended authorised holiday sessions
sess_auth_ext_holiday_rate	Extended authorised holiday rate
sess_auth_holiday	Number of authorised holiday sessions
sess_auth_holiday_rate	Authorised holiday rate
sess_auth_illness	Number of illness sessions
sess_auth_illness_rate	Illness rate
sess_auth_other	Number of authorised other sessions
sess_auth_other_rate	Authorised other rate
sess_auth_religious	Number of religious observance sessions
sess_auth_religious_rate	Religious observance rate
sess_auth_study	Number of study leave sessions
sess_auth_study_rate	Study leave rate
sess_auth_totalreasons	Number of authorised reasons sessions
sess_auth_totalreasons_rate	Authorised reasons rate
sess_auth_traveller	Number of traveller sessions
sess_auth_traveller_rate	Traveller rate
sess_authorised	Number of authorised absence sessions
sess_authorised_percent	Authorised absence rate
sess_overall	Number of overall absence sessions
sess_overall_percent	Overall absence rate
sess_overall_totalreasons	Number of overall reasons sessions
sess_overall_totalreasons_rate	Overall reasons rate
sess_possible	Number of sessions possible
sess_unauth_holiday	Number of unauthorised holiday sessions
sess_unauth_holiday_rate	Unauthorised holiday rate
sess_unauth_late	Number of late sessions
sess_unauth_late_rate	Late rate
sess_unauth_noyet	Number of no reason yet sessions
sess_unauth_noyet_rate	No reason yet rate
sess_unauth_other	Number of unauthorised other sessions
sess_unauth_other_rate	Unauthorised other rate
sess_unauth_totalreasons	Number of unauthorised reasons sessions
sess_unauth_totalreasons_rate	Unauthorised reasons rate
sess_unauthorised	Number of unauthorised absence sessions
sess_unauthorised_percent	Unauthorised absence rate
sess_x_covid	Number of sessions recorded as not attending due to COVID circumstances
sess_x_covid_rate	Rate of sessions recorded as not attending due to COVID circumstances
sess_y_exceptional	Number of sessions recorded as exceptional circumstances

Footnotes

Total includes state-funded primary, secondary and special schools. Data for special schools is available from 2016/17 to present
Total includes state-funded primary and secondary schools. Does not include special schools. Available from 2006/07 to present (data for special schools is available separately from 2016/17 onwards)

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Enrolments with one or more session of absence, including by reason for absence - autumn and spring term combined

Filename: 2_absence_2term_oneplussessions_.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2016/17 Autumn and spring term to 2021/22 Autumn and spring term
Content: The number of enrolments with one or more session of absence, including by reason for absence. Includes school level data.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
enrol_auth_appointments	Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to medical or dental appointments
enrol_auth_excluded	Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to exclusion
enrol_auth_ext_holiday	Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to agreed extended family holiday
enrol_auth_holiday	Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to agreed family holiday
enrol_auth_illness	Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to illness
enrol_auth_other	Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to other authorised circumstances
enrol_auth_religious	Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to religious observance
enrol_auth_study	Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to study leave
enrol_auth_traveller	Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to traveller absence
enrol_authorised	Number of enrolments with at least one authorised absence session
enrol_overall	Number of enrolments with at least one overall absence session
enrol_unauth_holiday	Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to family holiday not agreed
enrol_unauth_late	Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to arriving late
enrol_unauth_noyet	Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to no reason yet
enrol_unauth_other	Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to other unauthorised circumstances
enrol_unauthorised	Number of enrolments with at least one unauthorised absence session
enrol_x_covid	Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to not attending due to COVID circumstances
enrol_y_exceptional	Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to exceptional circumstances
enrolments	Number of pupil enrolments
num_schools	Number of schools
school_type	School type - Filter by school type

Footnotes

Total includes state-funded primary, secondary and special schools. Data for special schools is available from 2016/17 to present

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Absence rates as a percentage of possible sessions by band - autumn and spring terms combined

Filename: 3_absence_2term_onepercent_bands_.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2016/17 Autumn and spring term to 2021/22 Autumn and spring term
Content: The number of pupil enrolments by overall, authorised and unauthorised absence percentage point bands. Includes percentage point bands for illness absence and not attending in cricumstances relating to coronavirus (COVID-19)

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
enrolments_authorised	Number of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for authorised absence
enrolments_authorised_percent	Percentage of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for authorised absence
enrolments_illness	Number of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for illness absence
enrolments_illness_percent	Percentage of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for illness absence
enrolments_overall	Number of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for overall absence
enrolments_overall_percent	Percentage of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for overall absence
enrolments_sess_x_covid	Number of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for non-attendance due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
enrolments_sess_x_covid_percent	Percentage of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for non-attendance due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
enrolments_unauthorised	Number of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for unauthorised absence
enrolments_unauthorised_percent	Percentage of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for unauthorised absence
percent_bands	Absence percentage band - Filter by percentage of absence
school_type	School type - Filter by school type

Footnotes

Total includes state-funded primary, secondary and special schools. Data for special schools is available from 2016/17 to present

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Absence rates in pupil referral units (PRUs) - autumn and spring terms combined

Filename: 4_absence_2term_pru.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2013/14 Autumn and spring term to 2021/22 Autumn and spring term
Content: Absence rates for pupil referral units

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
enrolments	Number of pupil enrolments
enrolments_pa_10_exact	Number of persistent absentees - 10% or more sessions missed
enrolments_pa_10_exact_percent	Percentage of persistent absentees - 10% or more sessions missed
enrolments_pa_50_exact	Number of persistent absentees - 50% or more sessions missed
enrolments_pa_50_exact_percent	Percentage of persistent absentees - 50% or more sessions missed
num_schools	Number of schools
sess_auth_appointments	Number of medical appointments sessions
sess_auth_excluded	Number of excluded sessions
sess_auth_ext_holiday	Number of extended authorised holiday sessions
sess_auth_holiday	Number of authorised holiday sessions
sess_auth_illness	Number of illness sessions
sess_auth_other	Number of authorised other sessions
sess_auth_religious	Number of religious observance sessions
sess_auth_study	Number of study leave sessions
sess_auth_totalreasons	Number of authorised reasons sessions
sess_auth_traveller	Number of traveller sessions
sess_authorised	Number of authorised absence sessions
sess_authorised_percent	Authorised absence rate
sess_overall	Number of overall absence sessions
sess_overall_percent	Overall absence rate
sess_overall_totalreasons	Number of overall reasons sessions
sess_possible	Number of sessions possible
sess_unauth_holiday	Number of unauthorised holiday sessions
sess_unauth_late	Number of late sessions
sess_unauth_noyet	Number of no reason yet sessions
sess_unauth_other	Number of unauthorised other sessions
sess_unauth_totalreasons	Number of unauthorised reasons sessions
sess_unauthorised	Number of unauthorised absence sessions
sess_unauthorised_percent	Unauthorised absence rate
sess_x_covid	Number of sessions recorded as not attending due to COVID circumstances
sess_y_exceptional	Number of sessions recorded as exceptional circumstances

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Absence rates for four year olds - autumn and spring terms combined

Filename: 5_absence_2term_4year_olds_.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2016/17 Autumn and spring term to 2021/22 Autumn and spring term
Content: Overall absence for all enrolments in state-funded primary, secondary and special schools for pupils aged 4

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
enrolments	Number of pupil enrolments
num_schools	Number of schools
school_type	School type - Filter by school type
sess_overall	Number of overall absence sessions
sess_overall_percent	Overall absence rate
sess_possible	Number of sessions possible

Footnotes

Total includes state-funded primary, secondary and special schools. Data for special schools is available from 2016/17 to present

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Absence rates by pupil characteristic - autumn and spring combined

Filename: 6_absence_2term_characteristics.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2016/17 Autumn and spring term to 2021/22 Autumn and spring term
Content: Absence information for autumn and spring term combined by pupil characteristics such as age, gender and ethnicity for England.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
characteristic	Characteristic - Filter by characteristic
enrolments	Number of pupil enrolments
enrolments_pa_10_exact	Number of persistent absentees - 10% or more sessions missed
enrolments_pa_10_exact_percent	Percentage of persistent absentees - 10% or more sessions missed
school_type	School type - Filter by school type - Total includes primary, secondary and special
sess_auth_appointments	Number of medical appointments sessions
sess_auth_excluded	Number of excluded sessions
sess_auth_ext_holiday	Number of extended authorised holiday sessions
sess_auth_holiday	Number of authorised holiday sessions
sess_auth_illness	Number of illness sessions
sess_auth_other	Number of authorised other sessions
sess_auth_religious	Number of religious observance sessions
sess_auth_study	Number of study leave sessions
sess_auth_totalreasons	Number of authorised reasons sessions
sess_auth_traveller	Number of traveller sessions
sess_authorised	Number of authorised absence sessions
sess_authorised_pa_10_exact	Number of authorised absence sessions for persistent absentees
sess_authorised_percent	Authorised absence rate
sess_authorised_percent_pa_10_exact	Authorised absence rate exact
sess_overall	Number of overall absence sessions
sess_overall_pa_10_exact	Number of overall absence sessions for persistent absentees
sess_overall_percent	Overall absence rate
sess_overall_percent_pa_10_exact	Overall absence rate exact
sess_overall_totalreasons	Number of overall reasons sessions
sess_possible	Number of sessions possible
sess_possible_pa_10_exact	Number of sessions possible for persistent absentees
sess_unauth_holiday	Number of unauthorised holiday sessions
sess_unauth_late	Number of late sessions
sess_unauth_noyet	Number of no reason yet sessions
sess_unauth_other	Number of unauthorised other sessions
sess_unauth_totalreasons	Number of unauthorised reasons sessions
sess_unauthorised	Number of unauthorised absence sessions
sess_unauthorised_pa_10_exact	Number of unauthorised absence sessions for persistent absentees
sess_unauthorised_percent	Unauthorised absence rate
sess_unauthorised_percent_pa_10_exact	Unauthorised absence rate exact
sess_x_covid	Number of sessions recorded as not attending due to COVID circumstances
sess_y_exceptional	Number of sessions recorded as exceptional circumstances

Footnotes

Total includes state-funded primary, secondary and special schools. Data for special schools is available from 2016/17 to present

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Absence rates by geographic level - termly data

Filename: 1b_absence_2term_main_termly_.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2018/19 Autumn term to 2021/22 Spring term
Content: Termly absence information for autumn and spring term for all enrolments in state-funded primary, secondary and special schools including information on overall absence, persistent absence and reason for absence for pupils aged 5-15.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
enrolments_pa_10_exact	Number of persistent absentees - 10% or more sessions missed
enrolments_pa_10_exact_percent	Percentage of persistent absentees - 10% or more sessions missed
enrolments_pa_50_exact	Number of persistent absentees - 50% or more sessions missed
enrolments_pa_50_exact_percent	Percentage of persistent absentees - 50% or more sessions missed
school_type	School type - Filter by school type - Total includes primary, secondary and special
sess_auth_appointments	Number of medical appointments sessions
sess_auth_appointments_rate	Medical appointments rate
sess_auth_excluded	Number of excluded sessions
sess_auth_excluded_rate	Excluded rate
sess_auth_ext_holiday	Number of extended authorised holiday sessions
sess_auth_ext_holiday_rate	Extended authorised holiday rate
sess_auth_holiday	Number of authorised holiday sessions
sess_auth_holiday_rate	Authorised holiday rate
sess_auth_illness	Number of illness sessions
sess_auth_illness_rate	Illness rate
sess_auth_other	Number of authorised other sessions
sess_auth_other_rate	Authorised other rate
sess_auth_religious	Number of religious observance sessions
sess_auth_religious_rate	Religious observance rate
sess_auth_study	Number of study leave sessions
sess_auth_study_rate	Study leave rate
sess_auth_totalreasons	Number of authorised reasons sessions
sess_auth_totalreasons_rate	Authorised reasons rate
sess_auth_traveller	Number of traveller sessions
sess_auth_traveller_rate	Traveller rate
sess_authorised	Number of authorised absence sessions
sess_authorised_percent	Authorised absence rate
sess_overall	Number of overall absence sessions
sess_overall_percent	Overall absence rate
sess_overall_totalreasons	Number of overall reasons sessions
sess_overall_totalreasons_rate	Overall reasons rate
sess_possible	Number of sessions possible
sess_unauth_holiday	Number of unauthorised holiday sessions
sess_unauth_holiday_rate	Unauthorised holiday rate
sess_unauth_late	Number of late sessions
sess_unauth_late_rate	Late rate
sess_unauth_noyet	Number of no reason yet sessions
sess_unauth_noyet_rate	No reason yet rate
sess_unauth_other	Number of unauthorised other sessions
sess_unauth_other_rate	Unauthorised other rate
sess_unauth_totalreasons	Number of unauthorised reasons sessions
sess_unauth_totalreasons_rate	Unauthorised reasons rate
sess_unauthorised	Number of unauthorised absence sessions
sess_unauthorised_percent	Unauthorised absence rate
sess_x_covid	Number of sessions recorded as not attending due to COVID circumstances
sess_x_covid_rate	Rate of sessions recorded as not attending due to COVID circumstances
sess_y_exceptional	Number of sessions recorded as exceptional circumstances

Footnotes

Total includes state-funded primary, secondary and special schools. Data for special schools is available from 2016/17 to present

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Absence rates by pupil characteristic - termly data

Filename: 6b_absence_2term_characteristics_termly_.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2020/21 Autumn term to 2021/22 Spring term
Content: Termly absence information by pupil characteristics including age, gender, year group, free school meals (FSM), special educational needs (SEN) and ethnicity for England.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
characteristic	Characteristic - Filter by characteristic
enrolments	Number of pupil enrolments
enrolments_pa_10_exact	Number of persistent absentees - 10% or more sessions missed
enrolments_pa_10_exact_percent	Percentage of persistent absentees - 10% or more sessions missed
school_type	School type - Filter by school type - Total includes primary, secondary and special
sess_auth_appointments	Number of medical appointments sessions
sess_auth_excluded	Number of excluded sessions
sess_auth_ext_holiday	Number of extended authorised holiday sessions
sess_auth_holiday	Number of authorised holiday sessions
sess_auth_illness	Number of illness sessions
sess_auth_other	Number of authorised other sessions
sess_auth_religious	Number of religious observance sessions
sess_auth_study	Number of study leave sessions
sess_auth_totalreasons	Number of authorised reasons sessions
sess_auth_traveller	Number of traveller sessions
sess_authorised	Number of authorised absence sessions
sess_authorised_pa_10_exact	Number of authorised absence sessions for persistent absentees
sess_authorised_percent	Authorised absence rate
sess_authorised_percent_pa_10_exact	Authorised absence rate exact
sess_overall	Number of overall absence sessions
sess_overall_pa_10_exact	Number of overall absence sessions for persistent absentees
sess_overall_percent	Overall absence rate
sess_overall_percent_pa_10_exact	Overall absence rate exact
sess_overall_totalreasons	Number of overall reasons sessions
sess_possible	Number of sessions possible
sess_possible_pa_10_exact	Number of sessions possible for persistent absentees
sess_unauth_holiday	Number of unauthorised holiday sessions
sess_unauth_late	Number of late sessions
sess_unauth_noyet	Number of no reason yet sessions
sess_unauth_other	Number of unauthorised other sessions
sess_unauth_totalreasons	Number of unauthorised reasons sessions
sess_unauthorised	Number of unauthorised absence sessions
sess_unauthorised_pa_10_exact	Number of unauthorised absence sessions for persistent absentees
sess_unauthorised_percent	Unauthorised absence rate
sess_unauthorised_percent_pa_10_exact	Unauthorised absence rate exact
sess_x_covid	Number of sessions recorded as not attending due to COVID circumstances
sess_x_covid_rate	Rate of sessions recorded as not attending due to COVID circumstances
sess_y_exceptional	Number of sessions recorded as exceptional circumstances

Footnotes

Total includes state-funded primary, secondary and special schools. Data for special schools is available from 2016/17 to present

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