Autumn term 2019/20

Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn term

Data guidance

Published 28 May 2020

Description

This document describes the data included in the ‘Pupil absence in schools in England: Autumn 2019’ 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 Guide to absence statistics (opens in a new tab) 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

It includes information on:

reasons for absence
persistent absentees
absence information for pupil referral units (including alternative provision academies and free schools)
absence by pupil characteristics (2019/20 only)

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

A guide on how we produce pupil absence statistics (opens in a new tab) is also available with further detail on the methods used. The underlying data files include national, regional, local authority and school level absence information from autumn 2006 to autumn 2019 for schools in England. Data from autumn 2006 to autumn 2015 cover primary and secondary schools only. Termly absence data has been collected from special schools from autumn 2016 and appears in the underlying data from that point.

File formats and conventions

Rounding

This dataset has not had suppression applied. Rates are presented to one decimal place in the report but are unrounded in the underlying data files

Conventions

The following convention is used throughout the underlying data.

‘:’ 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 by Local Authority by characteristics

Filename: absence_1term_201920_la_characteristics.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority
Time period: 2019/20 Autumn term
Content: Absence information by pupil characteristics such as age, gender and ethnicity by local authority. Only available for 2019/20.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
characteristic	Characteristic - Filter by pupil characteristic
enrolments	Number of pupil enrolments
enrolments_PA_10_exact	Number of persistent absentees
enrolments_pa_10_exact_percent	Percentage of persistent absentees
school_type	School type - Filter by school type
sess_authorised	Number of authorised absence sessions
sess_authorised_appointments	Number of medical appointments sessions
sess_authorised_excluded	Number of excluded sessions
sess_authorised_ext_holiday	Number of extended authorised holiday sessions
sess_authorised_holiday	Number of authorised holiday sessions
sess_authorised_illness	Number of illness sessions
sess_authorised_other	Number of authorised other 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_authorised_religious	Number of religious observance sessions
sess_authorised_study	Number of study leave sessions
sess_authorised_totalreasons	Number of authorised reasons sessions
sess_authorised_traveller	Number of traveller sessions
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_unauthorised	Number of unauthorised absence sessions
sess_unauthorised_holiday	Number of unauthorised holiday sessions
sess_unauthorised_late	Number of late sessions
sess_unauthorised_noyet	Number of no reason yet sessions
sess_unauthorised_other	Number of unauthorised other 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_unauthorised_totalreasons	Number of unauthorised reasons sessions

Footnotes

Characteristic data is only available in 19/20 for the Autumn term. For other years, further data on characteristics can be found in the Autumn and Spring two term release and the full year three term release.

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Absence by percent bands

Filename: Absence_1term_one_percent_bands.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2006/07 Autumn term to 2019/20 Autumn term
Content: The number of pupil enrolments by overall, authorised and unauthorised absence percentage point bands. Primary and secondary only before 2016/17.

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_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_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

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Absence for 4 year olds

Filename: Absence_1term_4_year_olds.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2012/13 Autumn term to 2019/20 Autumn term
Content: Overall absence for all enrolments in state-funded primary, secondary and special schools for pupils aged 4. Primary and secondary only before 2016/17.

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

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Absence in Pupil Referral Units

Filename: Absence_1term_pru.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2013/14 Autumn term to 2019/20 Autumn term
Content: Absence information for pupil referral units (including alternative provision academies and free schools).

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
enrolments_pa_10_exact_percent	Percentage of persistent absentees
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

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Absence rates by geographic level

Filename: Absence_1term_nat_reg_la_sch_rates.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2006/07 Autumn term to 2019/20 Autumn term
Content: Absence information 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. Primary and secondary only before 2016/17.

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
enrolments_pa_10_exact_percent	Percentage of persistent absentees
num_schools	Number of schools
school_type	School type - Filter by school type
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

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 from 2016/17 onwards).

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Enrolments with one or more sessions of absence

Filename: Absence_1term_one_plus_sessions.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2006/07 Autumn term to 2019/20 Autumn term
Content: The number of enrolments with one or more session of absence, including by reason for absence. Primary and secondary only before 2016/17.

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
enrolments	Number of pupil enrolments
num_schools	Number of schools
school_type	School type - Filter by school type

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National absence by characteristics

Filename: absence_1term_201920_national_characteristics.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2019/20 Autumn term
Content: Absence information by pupil characteristics such as age, gender and ethnicity for England. Only available for 2019/20

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
characteristic	Characteristic - Filter by pupil characteristic
enrolments	Number of pupil enrolments
enrolments_pa_10_exact	Number of persistent absentees
enrolments_pa_10_exact_percent	Percentage of persistent absentees
school_type	School type - Filter by school type
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

Footnotes

Characteristic data is only available in 19/20 for the Autumn term. For other years, further data on characteristics can be found in the Autumn and Spring two term release and the full year three term release.

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