The 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.
Overall absence rates decreased compared to the previous Autumn term
6.7% of possible sessions were recorded as absence in Autumn term 2023/24, a decrease from 7.5% in Autumn 2022/23. Pre-pandemic overall absence rates were consistently below 5%.
Authorised absence decreased, while unauthorised absence increased
Authorised absence has decreased from 5.4% in Autumn 2022/23 to 4.5% in Autumn 2023/24. Unauthorised absence has increased slightly, from 2.1% to 2.2% over the same period.
Absence decreased across all school types
Overall absence:
- decreased in primary schools from 6.3% in Autumn 2022/23 to 5.3% in Autumn 2023/24
- decreased in secondary schools from 8.8% to 8.1%
- decreased in special schools from 13.4% to 12.7%
Each of these school types had a decrease in authorised absence and an increase in unauthorised absence.
The most common reason for absence was illness
The majority of absence was due to illness, which accounted for 3.5% of possible sessions. This was a reduction from 4.5% in Autumn term 2022/23, but higher than the pre-pandemic long-term trend of below 3%.
Most other reasons show similar absence rates to the previous autumn term.
Comparisons across years affected by the COVID-19 pandemic should be treated with caution. During 2020/21 and 2021/22, not attending in circumstances related to coronavirus (COVID-19), marked as code X, 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, shielding, and when a class or bubble has been required to stay at home. 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 a separate code (Code X).