Academic year 2018/19

Pupil absence in schools in England

Data guidance

Published 26 March 2020

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 geography

• Filename: Absence_3term201819_nat_reg_la_sch.csv
• Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
• Time period: 2006/07 to 2018/19

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_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 of persistent absentees
sess_authorised_percent	Authorised absence rate
sess_authorised_percent_pa_10_exact	Authorised absence rate of persistent absentees
sess_overall	Number of overall absence sessions
sess_overall_pa_10_exact	Number of overall absence sessions of persistent absentees
sess_overall_percent	Overall absence rate
sess_overall_percent_pa_10_exact	Overall absence rate of persistent absentees
sess_overall_totalreasons	Number of overall reasons sessions
sess_possible	Number of sessions possible
sess_possible_pa_10_exact	Number of sessions possible of 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 of persistent absentees
sess_unauthorised_percent	Unauthorised absence rate
sess_unauthorised_percent_pa_10_exact	Unauthorised absence rate of persistent absentees

Footnotes

1. The definition of persistent absence changed from the 2015/16 academic year - The information presented for years prior to 2015/16 has been produced using the same methodology in order to allow users to make comparisons on a consistent basis over time.
2. The percentage of persistent absentees is the number of persistent absentees expressed as a percentage of the total number of enrolments.
3. Special schools include maintained special schools, non-maintained special schools and special academies. Excludes general hospital schools, independent special schools and independent schools approved for SEN pupils.
4. State-funded primary schools include all primary academies, including free schools.
5. Number of enrolments includes pupils on the school roll for at least one session who are aged between 5 and 15, excluding boarders. Some pupils may be counted more than once (if they moved schools during the academic year or are registered in more than one school).
6. Absence rates are the number of absence sessions expressed as a percentage of the total number of possible sessions.
7. State-funded secondary schools include city technology colleges and all secondary academies, including all-through academies and free schools.
8. Includes all schools with at least six enrolments who reported absence information via the school census for the associated academic year.
9. Pupil enrolments missing 10 percent or more of their own possible sessions (due to authorised or unauthorised absence) are classified as persistent absentees.

Absence by Local Authority by characteristics

• Filename: Absence_3term201819_la_characteristics.csv
• Geographic levels: Local authority
• Time period: 2012/13 to 2018/19

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

1. The definition of persistent absence changed from the 2015/16 academic year - The information presented for years prior to 2015/16 has been produced using the same methodology in order to allow users to make comparisons on a consistent basis over time.
2. The percentage of persistent absentees is the number of persistent absentees expressed as a percentage of the total number of enrolments.
3. Minority ethnic group includes pupils who have been classified according to their ethnic group, excluding White British.
4. Special schools include maintained special schools, non-maintained special schools and special academies. Excludes general hospital schools, independent special schools and independent schools approved for SEN pupils.
5. State-funded primary schools include all primary academies, including free schools.
6. Social Emotional and Mental Health was added as a new type of need in 2015, the previous type of need Behaviour, Emotional and Social Difficulties has been removed although it is not expected it should be a direct replacement.
7. Number of enrolments includes pupils on the school roll for at least one session who are aged between 5 and 15, excluding boarders. Some pupils may be counted more than once (if they moved schools during the academic year or are registered in more than one school).
8. Absence rates are the number of absence sessions expressed as a percentage of the total number of possible sessions.
9. Figures for pupils with unclassified or missing characteristics information should be interpreted with caution.
10. State-funded secondary schools include city technology colleges and all secondary academies, including all-through academies and free schools.
11. In September 2014 the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) provisions were introduced in the Children and Families Act 2014. This reform caused changes to SEN categories - Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans were introduced and SEN support replaces school action and school action plus but some pupils remain with these provision types in first year of transition (2014/15).
12. From 2014/15 SEN support replaced School Action and School Action plus but some pupils remain with these provision types. Those who were formerly School Action did not provide type of need in previous years. Those who remain on school action provision are not included here but have been included within the SEN support category in other tables.
13. Pupil enrolments missing 10 percent or more of their own possible sessions (due to authorised or unauthorised absence) are classified as persistent absentees.

Absence by Local Authority District by characteristics

• Filename: Absence_3term201819_lad_characteristics.csv
• Geographic levels: Local authority district
• Time period: 2016/17 to 2018/19

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

1. The definition of persistent absence changed from the 2015/16 academic year - The information presented for years prior to 2015/16 has been produced using the same methodology in order to allow users to make comparisons on a consistent basis over time.
2. The percentage of persistent absentees is the number of persistent absentees expressed as a percentage of the total number of enrolments.
3. Special schools include maintained special schools, non-maintained special schools and special academies. Excludes general hospital schools, independent special schools and independent schools approved for SEN pupils.
4. State-funded primary schools include all primary academies, including free schools.
5. Number of enrolments includes pupils on the school roll for at least one session who are aged between 5 and 15, excluding boarders. Some pupils may be counted more than once (if they moved schools during the academic year or are registered in more than one school).
6. Absence rates are the number of absence sessions expressed as a percentage of the total number of possible sessions.
7. Figures for pupils with unclassified or missing characteristics information should be interpreted with caution.
8. State-funded secondary schools include city technology colleges and all secondary academies, including all-through academies and free schools.
9. Pupil enrolments missing 10 percent or more of their own possible sessions (due to authorised or unauthorised absence) are classified as persistent absentees.

Absence by percent bands

• Filename: Absence_3term201819_one_percent_bands.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2012/13 to 2018/19

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_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

Footnotes

1. Special schools include maintained special schools, non-maintained special schools and special academies. Excludes general hospital schools, independent special schools and independent schools approved for SEN pupils.
2. State-funded primary schools include all primary academies, including free schools.
3. State-funded secondary schools include city technology colleges and all secondary academies, including all-through academies and free schools.

Absence by PLAA

• Filename: Absence_3term201819_plaa.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2018/19

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
plaa	Type of Post Looked After Arrangements - Filter by Post Looked After Arrangements
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_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

Footnotes

1. The definition of persistent absence changed from the 2015/16 academic year - The information presented for years prior to 2015/16 has been produced using the same methodology in order to allow users to make comparisons on a consistent basis over time.
2. The percentage of persistent absentees is the number of persistent absentees expressed as a percentage of the total number of enrolments.
3. Special schools include maintained special schools, non-maintained special schools and special academies. Excludes general hospital schools, independent special schools and independent schools approved for SEN pupils.
4. State-funded primary schools include all primary academies, including free schools.
5. Number of enrolments includes pupils on the school roll for at least one session who are aged between 5 and 15, excluding boarders. Some pupils may be counted more than once (if they moved schools during the academic year or are registered in more than one school).
6. Absence rates are the number of absence sessions expressed as a percentage of the total number of possible sessions.
7. State-funded secondary schools include city technology colleges and all secondary academies, including all-through academies and free schools.
8. Pupil enrolments missing 10 percent or more of their own possible sessions (due to authorised or unauthorised absence) are classified as persistent absentees.

Absence by pupil residency

• Filename: Absence_3term201819_pup_residency.csv
• Geographic levels: Local authority; Local authority district; National; Regional
• Time period: 2016/17 to 2018/19

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
pup_idaci	IDACI band of pupil residence - Filter by IDACI band of pupil residence
pup_rurality	Rurality band of pupil residence - Filter by rurality band of pupil residence
school_type	School type - Filter by school type
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_possible	Number of sessions possible
sess_unauthorised	Number of unauthorised absence sessions
sess_unauthorised_percent	Unauthorised absence rate

Footnotes

1. The definition of persistent absence changed from the 2015/16 academic year - The information presented for years prior to 2015/16 has been produced using the same methodology in order to allow users to make comparisons on a consistent basis over time.
2. The percentage of persistent absentees is the number of persistent absentees expressed as a percentage of the total number of enrolments.
3. Special schools include maintained special schools, non-maintained special schools and special academies. Excludes general hospital schools, independent special schools and independent schools approved for SEN pupils.
4. State-funded primary schools include all primary academies, including free schools.
5. Number of enrolments includes pupils on the school roll for at least one session who are aged between 5 and 15, excluding boarders. Some pupils may be counted more than once (if they moved schools during the academic year or are registered in more than one school).
6. Absence rates are the number of absence sessions expressed as a percentage of the total number of possible sessions.
7. State-funded secondary schools include city technology colleges and all secondary academies, including all-through academies and free schools.
8. Pupil enrolments missing 10 percent or more of their own possible sessions (due to authorised or unauthorised absence) are classified as persistent absentees.

Absence by school location

• Filename: Absence_3term201819_school_loc.csv
• Geographic levels: Local authority; Local authority district; National; Regional
• Time period: 2016/17 to 2018/19

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
sch_idaci	IDACI band of school location - Filter by IDACI band of school location
sch_rurality	Rurality band of school location - Filter by rurality band of school location
school_type	School type - Filter by school type
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_possible	Number of sessions possible
sess_unauthorised	Number of unauthorised absence sessions
sess_unauthorised_percent	Unauthorised absence rate

Footnotes

1. The definition of persistent absence changed from the 2015/16 academic year - The information presented for years prior to 2015/16 has been produced using the same methodology in order to allow users to make comparisons on a consistent basis over time.
2. The percentage of persistent absentees is the number of persistent absentees expressed as a percentage of the total number of enrolments.
3. Special schools include maintained special schools, non-maintained special schools and special academies. Excludes general hospital schools, independent special schools and independent schools approved for SEN pupils.
4. State-funded primary schools include all primary academies, including free schools.
5. Number of enrolments includes pupils on the school roll for at least one session who are aged between 5 and 15, excluding boarders. Some pupils may be counted more than once (if they moved schools during the academic year or are registered in more than one school).
6. Absence rates are the number of absence sessions expressed as a percentage of the total number of possible sessions.
7. State-funded secondary schools include city technology colleges and all secondary academies, including all-through academies and free schools.
8. Pupil enrolments missing 10 percent or more of their own possible sessions (due to authorised or unauthorised absence) are classified as persistent absentees.

Absence by term

• Filename: Absence_3term201819_absence_by_term.csv
• Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
• Time period: 2012/13 to 2018/19

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name	Variable description
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_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
term	Term - Filter by school term

Footnotes

1. Special schools include maintained special schools, non-maintained special schools and special academies. Excludes general hospital schools, independent special schools and independent schools approved for SEN pupils.
2. State-funded primary schools include all primary academies, including free schools.
3. Absence rates are the number of absence sessions expressed as a percentage of the total number of possible sessions.
4. State-funded secondary schools include city technology colleges and all secondary academies, including all-through academies and free schools.

Absence for 4 year olds

• Filename: Absence_3term201819_4_year_olds.csv
• Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
• Time period: 2012/13 to 2018/19

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

1. Special schools include maintained special schools, non-maintained special schools and special academies. Excludes general hospital schools, independent special schools and independent schools approved for SEN pupils.
2. State-funded primary schools include all primary academies, including free schools.
3. Number of enrolments includes pupils on the school roll for at least one session who are aged between 5 and 15, excluding boarders. Some pupils may be counted more than once (if they moved schools during the academic year or are registered in more than one school).
4. Absence rates are the number of absence sessions expressed as a percentage of the total number of possible sessions.
5. Only overall absence is recorded for pupils aged 4, absences are not categorised as authorised or unauthorised.
6. State-funded secondary schools include city technology colleges and all secondary academies, including all-through academies and free schools.
7. Includes pupils on the school roll for at least one session who are aged 4, excluding boarders. Some pupils may be counted more than once (if they moved schools during the academic year or are registered at more than one school).
8. Includes all schools with at least six enrolments who reported absence information via the school census for the associated academic year.

Absence in Pupil Referral Units

• Filename: Absence_3term201819_pru.csv
• Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
• Time period: 2013/14 to 2018/19

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

Enrolments with one or more session of absence

• Filename: Absence_3term201819_one_plus_sessions.csv
• Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
• Time period: 2012/13 to 2018/19

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

Footnotes

1. The number of enrolments with one or more session of absence for specific reason.
2. Special schools include maintained special schools, non-maintained special schools and special academies. Excludes general hospital schools, independent special schools and independent schools approved for SEN pupils.
3. State-funded primary schools include all primary academies, including free schools.
4. Number of enrolments includes pupils on the school roll for at least one session who are aged between 5 and 15, excluding boarders. Some pupils may be counted more than once (if they moved schools during the academic year or are registered in more than one school).
5. State-funded secondary schools include city technology colleges and all secondary academies, including all-through academies and free schools.

National absence by characteristics

• Filename: Absence_3term201819_national_characteristics.csv
• Geographic levels: National
• Time period: 2012/13 to 2018/19

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

1. The definition of persistent absence changed from the 2015/16 academic year - The information presented for years prior to 2015/16 has been produced using the same methodology in order to allow users to make comparisons on a consistent basis over time.
2. The percentage of persistent absentees is the number of persistent absentees expressed as a percentage of the total number of enrolments.
3. Minority ethnic group includes pupils who have been classified according to their ethnic group, excluding White British.
4. Special schools include maintained special schools, non-maintained special schools and special academies. Excludes general hospital schools, independent special schools and independent schools approved for SEN pupils.
5. State-funded primary schools include all primary academies, including free schools.
6. Social Emotional and Mental Health was added as a new type of need in 2015, the previous type of need Behaviour, Emotional and Social Difficulties has been removed although it is not expected it should be a direct replacement.
7. Number of enrolments includes pupils on the school roll for at least one session who are aged between 5 and 15, excluding boarders. Some pupils may be counted more than once (if they moved schools during the academic year or are registered in more than one school).
8. Absence rates are the number of absence sessions expressed as a percentage of the total number of possible sessions.
9. Figures for pupils with unclassified or missing characteristics information should be interpreted with caution.
10. State-funded secondary schools include city technology colleges and all secondary academies, including all-through academies and free schools.
11. In September 2014 the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) provisions were introduced in the Children and Families Act 2014. This reform caused changes to SEN categories - Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans were introduced and SEN support replaces school action and school action plus but some pupils remain with these provision types in first year of transition (2014/15).
12. From 2014/15 SEN support replaced School Action and School Action plus but some pupils remain with these provision types. Those who were formerly School Action did not provide type of need in previous years. Those who remain on school action provision are not included here but have been included within the SEN support category in other tables.
13. Pupil enrolments missing 10 percent or more of their own possible sessions (due to authorised or unauthorised absence) are classified as persistent absentees.