Absence rate is the total number of sessions missed due to absence for all pupils as a percentage of the total number of possible sessions for all pupils. One session is equal to half a day.
Not attending in circumstances related to coronavirus (COVID-19)
From 2020/21, not attending in circumstances related to coronavirus (COVID-19) has not been counted as an absence, but has been included as a possible session in the calculation of absence rates. This has included where pupils were self-isolating and shielding, including when a class or bubble has been required to stay at home. During these sessions, pupils were expected to not attend or were prohibited from attending and so they are treated separately and not counted within the standard absence rates within this publication.
In 2021/22, this category should mostly have been used to record where a pupil was absent from school with symptoms of COVID-19 whilst awaiting the results of a test. From April 2022, in line with our transition to living with COVID-19, schools were no longer advised to record pupils who did not attend for reasons related to COVID-19 using Code X. This was in line with the fact that pupils with symptoms of COVID-19 were no longer advised to get a test, and most of the scenarios that this category was brought into to record no longer applied. Instead, where a pupil did not attend because they have symptoms of COVID-19 or had a positive test, schools were advised to record this using Code I (illness) unless another more appropriate code applied.
From April 2022, schools were advised to no longer use this category and as such no figures are presented in this publication for this category for 2022/23.
Overall absence has decreased, driven by a decrease in authorised absence including illness
The overall absence rate has decreased to 7.4% in 2022/23 from 7.6% in 2021/22. Further, in 2021/22, 1.0% of sessions were recorded as not attending due to COVID. Schools were advised to no longer use this category from April 2022, hence this has dropped to zero in 2022/23.
Decreases can be seen in both state-funded primary and special schools, while the rate in state-funded secondary has remained stable at 9.0%.
Authorised absence has decreased, while unauthorised absence has increased
There has been a decrease in authorised absence, from 5.5% to 5.0%, driven by a decrease in illness absence, from 4.4% of sessions to 3.7% of sessions.
There has been an increase in unauthorised absence over the same period however, from 2.1% to 2.4%.
The reduction in authorised and increase in unauthorised absence is seen across all school types.
When comparing across previous years, the effect of COVID-19 needs to be considered
For the 2020/21 and 2021/22 academic years, data were collected on pupils not attending due to circumstances relating to coronavirus (Code X). In these circumstances, schools were expected to provide immediate access to remote education. From April 2022, schools were advised to no longer use this category. Throughout the pandemic, schools were advised to record pupils with a confirmed case of COVID-19 as absent due to illness (Code I).
In 2020/21, 21.3% of possible sessions were recorded as not attending in circumstances relating to COVID-19 (Code X), this reduced to 1.0% in 2021/22. The illness rate, including confirmed cases of COVID-19, peaked in 2021/22 at 4.4% (Code I).
The largest reason for absence is illness
Illness absence rate decreased from 4.4% to 3.7% in 2022/23, however this remains higher than rates seen pre-pandemic. Unauthorised other reasons were the next highest reason for absence at 1.7% in 2022/23, following an increase from 1.4%. The unauthorised holiday rate increased slightly from 0.4% to 0.5% in 2022/23.
The overall absence rate was 7.5% in autumn term 2022/23, decreased to 7.0% in spring term 2022/23 and then increased to 7.6% in summer term 2022/23. This trend was followed in both state-funded primary and secondary schools. Absence rates decreased across the school year in special schools.
Authorised absence decreased across the year from 5.4% in autumn term to 4.6% in summer term, while unauthorised absence increased across the school year.