Autumn term 2022/23

Pupil absence in schools in England

Pupil absence, including overall, authorised and unauthorised absence and persistent absence by reason and pupil characteristics for the full academic year.

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Published
Last updated
1 updatefor Autumn term 2022/23
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20 data sets available for download

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  • Absence rates by geographic level - autumn term

    Local authority, National, Regional

    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. National, Regional and Local Authority data from 2006/07. School data is included from 2016/17. Primary and secondary only before 2016/17.

    Number of rows
    9,371
    Indicators
    • Authorised absence rate
    • Authorised holiday rate
    • Authorised other rate
    Filters
    • School type
    Time period
    2006/07 Autumn term to 2022/23 Autumn term
    Create table using Absence rates by geographic level - autumn term
  • Absence rates - school level - autumn term

    School

    Absence information for autumn 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. Includes school level data.

    Number of rows
    148,175
    Indicators
    • Authorised absence rate
    • Authorised holiday rate
    • Authorised other rate
    Filters
    • School type
    Time period
    2016/17 Autumn term to 2022/23 Autumn term
    Create table using Absence rates - school level - autumn term
  • Absence rates by pupil characteristic - autumn term

    Local authority, National, Regional

    Absence information by characteristics 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. Characteristics included are gender, year group, free school meal eligibility, SEN provision, SEN type of need, ethnicity and language. National, regional and local authority data from autumn 2019 to autumn 2022

    Number of rows
    161,478
    Indicators
    • Authorised absence rate
    • Authorised absence rate exact
    • Number of authorised absence sessions
    Filters
    • Characteristic
    • School type
    Time period
    2019/20 Autumn term to 2022/23 Autumn term
    Create table using Absence rates by pupil characteristic - autumn term
  • Absence rates by geographic level - termly

    Local authority, National, Regional

    Termly 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.

    Number of rows
    16,184
    Indicators
    • Authorised absence rate
    • Authorised holiday rate
    • Authorised other rate
    Filters
    • School type
    Time period
    2012/13 Autumn term to 2022/23 Autumn term
    Create table using Absence rates by geographic level - termly
  • Enrolments with one or more session of absence, including by reason for absence - autumn term

    Local authority, National, Regional

    The number of enrolments with one or more session of absence, including by reason for absence. National, Regional and Local Authority data from 2006/07. School data from 2016/17. Primary and secondary only before 2016/17.

    Number of rows
    9,371
    Indicators
    • Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to agreed extended family holiday
    • Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to agreed family holiday
    • Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to arriving late
    Filters
    • School type
    Time period
    2006/07 Autumn term to 2022/23 Autumn term
    Create table using Enrolments with one or more session of absence, including by reason for absence - autumn term
  • Enrolments with one or more session of absence, including by reason for absence - school level - autumn term

    School

    The number of enrolments with one or more session of absence, including by reason for absence. Includes school level data.

    Number of rows
    148,175
    Indicators
    • Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to agreed extended family holiday
    • Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to agreed family holiday
    • Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to arriving late
    Filters
    • School type
    Time period
    2016/17 Autumn term to 2022/23 Autumn term
    Create table using Enrolments with one or more session of absence, including by reason for absence - school level - autumn term
  • Absence rates as a percentage of possible sessions by band - autumn term

    National

    The number of pupil enrolments by their absence in the term as a percentage of possible sessions. Covers overall absence, authorised absence and unauthorised absence. Data by one percent bands. Primary and secondary only before 2016/17.

    Number of rows
    5,916
    Indicators
    • Number of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for authorised absence
    • Number of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for illness absence
    • Number of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for non-attendance due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
    Filters
    • Absence percentage band
    • School type
    Time period
    2006/07 Autumn term to 2022/23 Autumn term
    Create table using Absence rates as a percentage of possible sessions by band - autumn term
  • Absence rates for four year olds - autumn term

    Local authority, National, Regional

    Overall absence for all enrolments in state-funded primary, secondary and special schools for pupils aged 4. National, Regional and Local Authority data from 2012/13. Primary and secondary only before 2016/17. Collected from 2012/13

    Number of rows
    6,631
    Indicators
    • Number of overall absence sessions
    • Number of pupil enrolments
    • Number of schools
    Filters
    • School type
    Time period
    2012/13 Autumn term to 2022/23 Autumn term
    Create table using Absence rates for four year olds - autumn term
  • Absence rates for four year olds - school level - autumn term

    School

    Overall absence for all enrolments in state-funded primary, secondary and special schools for pupils aged 4. School data from 2016/17.

    Number of rows
    114,731
    Indicators
    • Number of overall absence sessions
    • Number of pupil enrolments
    • Number of schools
    Filters
    • School type
    Time period
    2016/17 Autumn term to 2022/23 Autumn term
    Create table using Absence rates for four year olds - school level - autumn term
  • Absence rates in pupil referral units (PRUs) - autumn term

    Local authority, National, Regional

    Absence information for pupil referral units (including alternative provision academies and free schools). Data has been collected from 2013/14.

    Number of rows
    1,523
    Indicators
    • Authorised absence rate
    • Number of authorised absence sessions
    • Number of authorised holiday sessions
    Time period
    2013/14 Autumn term to 2022/23 Autumn term
    Create table using Absence rates in pupil referral units (PRUs) - autumn term
  • Absence rates in pupil referral units (PRUs) - school level - autumn term

    School

    Absence information for pupil referral units (including alternative provision academies and free schools) at school level. Data has been collected from 2013/14.

    Number of rows
    3,414
    Indicators
    • Authorised absence rate
    • Number of authorised absence sessions
    • Number of authorised holiday sessions
    Time period
    2013/14 Autumn term to 2022/23 Autumn term
    Create table using Absence rates in pupil referral units (PRUs) - school level - autumn term
  • Absence rates by geographic level - full academic years

    Local authority, National, Regional

    Absence information for full academic years 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.

    Number of rows
    9,690
    Indicators
    • Authorised absence rate
    • Authorised absence rate (persistent absentees only)
    • Authorised holiday rate
    Filters
    • School type
    Time period
    2006/07 to 2021/22
    Create table using Absence rates by geographic level - full academic years
  • Absence rates - school level - full academic years

    School

    Absence information for full academic years 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.

    Number of rows
    169,736
    Indicators
    • Authorised absence rate
    • Authorised absence rate (persistent absentees only)
    • Authorised holiday rate
    Filters
    • School type
    Time period
    2013/14 to 2021/22
    Create table using Absence rates - school level - full academic years
  • Enrolments with one or more session of absence, including by reason for absence - full academic years

    Local authority, National, Regional

    The number of enrolments with one or more session of absence, including by reason for absence.

    Number of rows
    5,819
    Indicators
    • Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to agreed extended family holiday
    • Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to agreed family holiday
    • Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to arriving late
    Filters
    • School type
    Time period
    2012/13 to 2021/22
    Create table using Enrolments with one or more session of absence, including by reason for absence - full academic years
  • Enrolments with one or more session of absence, including by reason for absence - school level - full academic years

    School

    The number of enrolments with one or more session of absence, including by reason for absence. Includes school level data.

    Number of rows
    169,736
    Indicators
    • Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to agreed extended family holiday
    • Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to agreed family holiday
    • Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to arriving late
    Filters
    • School type
    Time period
    2013/14 to 2021/22
    Create table using Enrolments with one or more session of absence, including by reason for absence - school level - full academic years
  • Absence rates as a percentage of possible sessions by band - full academic years

    National

    The number of pupil enrolments by overall, authorised and unauthorised absence percentage point bands.

    Number of rows
    3,264
    Indicators
    • Number of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for authorised absence
    • Number of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for illness absence
    • Number of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for non-attendance due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
    Filters
    • Absence percentage band
    • School type
    Time period
    2013/14 to 2021/22
    Create table using Absence rates as a percentage of possible sessions by band - full academic years
  • Absence rates in pupil referral units (PRUs) - full academic years

    Local authority, National, Regional

    Absence rates for pupil referral units

    Number of rows
    1,222
    Indicators
    • Authorised absence rate
    • Number of authorised absence sessions
    • Number of authorised holiday sessions
    Time period
    2013/14 to 2021/22
    Create table using Absence rates in pupil referral units (PRUs) - full academic years
  • Absence rates in pupil referral units (PRUs) - school level - full academic years

    School

    Absence rates for pupil referral units. Includes school level data.

    Number of rows
    2,796
    Indicators
    • Authorised absence rate
    • Number of authorised absence sessions
    • Number of authorised holiday sessions
    Time period
    2013/14 to 2021/22
    Create table using Absence rates in pupil referral units (PRUs) - school level - full academic years
  • Absence rates by pupil characteristic - full academic years

    Local authority, National, Regional

    Absence information for the full academic year, by pupil characteristics including SEN, FSM, language, year group, gender and ethnicity for England.

    Number of rows
    174,468
    Indicators
    • Authorised absence rate
    • Authorised absence rate exact
    • Number of authorised absence sessions
    Filters
    • Characteristic
    • School type
    Time period
    2017/18 to 2021/22
    Create table using Absence rates by pupil characteristic - full academic years
  • Persistent absence only (including code x) since Autumn 2016 - autumn term

    National

    National persistent absence figures in Autumn terms from 2016/17 to 2022/23. Includes persistent absence and additional non-attendance in circumstances relating to coronavirus (attendance code X).

    Number of rows
    7
    Indicators
    • Additional as a result of Code X
    • Including Code X
    • Persistent absence rate
    Time period
    2016/17 Autumn term to 2022/23 Autumn term
    Create table using Persistent absence only (including code x) since Autumn 2016 - autumn term

Data guidance

Description of the data sets included in this release, including information on data sources, coverage, quality and any data conventions used.

Description

This document describes the data included in the ‘Pupil absence in schools in England’ National Statistics release’s underlying data files. This data is released under the terms of the Open Government License (opens in new tab) and is intended to meet at least 3 stars for Open Data (opens in 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
  • special schools

It includes information on:

  • reasons for absence
  • persistent absentees
  • separate absence information for pupil referral units (including alternative provision academies and free schools)

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

File formats and conventions

Rounding and Suppression

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. 

‘x’  Not available.

‘z’  Not applicable


Contact us

If you have a specific enquiry about Pupil absence in schools in England statistics and data:

Attendance and exclusions statistics team

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

Press office

If you have a media enquiry:

Telephone: 020 7783 8300

Public enquiries

If you have a general enquiry about the Department for Education (DfE) or education:

Phone: 0370 000 2288

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