Academic year 2024/25

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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18 data sets available for download

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  • Absence rates by geographic level

    Local authority, National, Regional

    Absence information for full academic years for all enrolments in state-funded primary, state-funded secondary and special schools including information on overall absence, persistent absence and reason for absence for pupils aged 5-15.

    Number of rows
    11,567
    Indicators
    • Overall absence rate
    • Percentage of persistent absentees (10% or more missed)
    • Number of schools
    Filters
    • School type
    Time period
    2006/07 to 2024/25
    Data set information page for Absence rates by geographic level
    Create table using Absence rates by geographic level

  • Absence rates by school level

    School

    School level absence information for full academic years for all enrolments in state-funded primary, state-funded secondary and special schools including information on overall absence, persistent absence and reason for absence for pupils aged 5-15.

    Number of rows
    233,597
    Indicators
    • Overall absence rate
    • Percentage of persistent absentees (10% or more missed)
    • Number of pupil enrolments
    Filters
    • School type
    Time period
    2013/14 to 2024/25
    Data set information page for Absence rates by school level
    Create table using Absence rates by school level

  • Absence by geographic level - termly

    Local authority, National, Regional

    Termly absence information for all enrolments in state-funded primary, state-funded secondary and special schools including information on overall absence, persistent absence and reason for absence for pupils aged 5-15.

    Number of rows
    11,586
    Indicators
    • Overall absence rate
    • Persistent absence rate
    • Severe absence rate
    Filters
    • School type
    Time period
    2018/19 Autumn term to 2024/25 Summer term
    Data set information page for Absence by geographic level - termly
    Create table using Absence by geographic level - termly

  • Absence in state-funded alternative provision

    Local authority, National, Regional

    Absence information for full academic years for all enrolments in state-funded alternative provision (including pupil referral units) with information on overall absence, persistent absence and reason for absence for pupils aged 5-15.

    Number of rows
    1,668
    Indicators
    • Overall absence rate
    • Percentage of persistent absentees (10% or more missed)
    • Percentage of severely absent pupils (50% or more missed)
    Time period
    2013/14 to 2024/25
    Data set information page for Absence in state-funded alternative provision
    Create table using Absence in state-funded alternative provision

  • Absence in state-funded alternative provision - school level

    School

    School level absence information for full academic years for all enrolments in state-funded alternative provision (including pupil referral units) with information on overall absence, persistent absence and reason for absence for pupils aged 5-15.

    Number of rows
    3,793
    Indicators
    • Overall absence rate
    • Percentage of persistent absentees (10% or more missed)
    • Percentage of severely absent pupils (50% or more missed)
    Time period
    2013/14 to 2024/25
    Data set information page for Absence in state-funded alternative provision - school level
    Create table using Absence in state-funded alternative provision - school level

  • Absence by pupil characteristics

    Local authority, National, Regional

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

    Number of rows
    250,190
    Indicators
    • Overall absence rate
    • Percentage of persistent absentees (10% or more missed)
    • Percentage of severely absent pupils (50% or more missed)
    Filters
    • Characteristic
    • School type
    Time period
    2018/19 to 2024/25
    Data set information page for Absence by pupil characteristics
    Create table using Absence by pupil characteristics

  • Absence by pupil characteristics - termly

    National

    Termly absence information by pupil characteristics including SEN, FSM eligibility, language, year group, sex and ethnicity.

    Number of rows
    3,817
    Indicators
    • Overall absence rate
    • Percentage of persistent absentees (10% or more sessions missed)
    • Percentage of severe absentees (50% or more sessions missed)
    Filters
    • Characteristic
    • Characteristics group
    • School type
    Time period
    2018/19 Autumn term to 2024/25 Summer term
    Data set information page for Absence by pupil characteristics - termly
    Create table using Absence by pupil characteristics - termly

  • Absence by pupil ethnicity and FSM eligibility

    National

    Absence information for full academic years by both pupil ethnicity and free school meal (FSM) eligibility.

    Number of rows
    639
    Indicators
    • Percentage of absence sessions
    • Percentage of persistent absentees (10% or more missed)
    • Percentage of severe absentees (50% or more missed)
    Filters
    • Ethnicity Minor
    • FSM eligibility
    • School type
    Time period
    2023/24 to 2024/25
    Data set information page for Absence by pupil ethnicity and FSM eligibility
    Create table using Absence by pupil ethnicity and FSM eligibility

  • Enrolments with one or more sessions of absence

    Local authority, National, Regional

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

    Number of rows
    7,720
    Indicators
    • Number of schools
    • Number of pupil enrolments
    • Number of enrolments with at least one overall absence session
    Filters
    • School type
    Time period
    2012/13 to 2024/25
    Data set information page for Enrolments with one or more sessions of absence
    Create table using Enrolments with one or more sessions of absence

  • Enrolments with one or more sessions of absence - school level

    School

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

    Number of rows
    233,597
    Indicators
    • Number enrolments with 1+ absence session due to agreed extended family holiday
    • Number enrolments with 1+ absence session due to medical or dental appointments
    • Number enrolments with 1+ absence session due to other authorised circumstances
    Filters
    • School type
    Time period
    2013/14 to 2024/25
    Data set information page for Enrolments with one or more sessions of absence - school level
    Create table using Enrolments with one or more sessions of absence - school level

  • Absence as a percentage of possible sessions by band

    National

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

    Number of rows
    4,488
    Indicators
    • Number of pupil enrolments in that per cent band for unauthorised absence
    • Number of pupil enrolments in that per cent band for COVID non-attendance
    • Number of pupil enrolments in that per cent band for authorised absence
    Filters
    • Absence percentage band
    • School type
    Time period
    2013/14 to 2024/25
    Data set information page for Absence as a percentage of possible sessions by band
    Create table using Absence as a percentage of possible sessions by band

  • Absence for pupils identified as young carers

    National

    Overall absence for all enrolments in state-funded primary, state-funded secondary and special schools for pupils declared as young carers

    Number of rows
    36
    Indicators
    • Overall absence rate
    • Percentage of persistent absentees
    • Number of pupil enrolments
    Filters
    • School type
    • Young Carer
    Time period
    2022/23 to 2024/25
    Data set information page for Absence for pupils identified as young carers
    Create table using Absence for pupils identified as young carers

  • Absence for pupils with post looked after arrangements (PLAA)

    National

    Overall absence for all enrolments in state-funded primary, state-funded secondary and special schools for pupils with post looked after arrangements.

    Number of rows
    120
    Indicators
    • Overall absence rate
    • Percentage of persistent absentees
    • Number of pupil enrolments
    Filters
    • Post looked after arrangement
    • School type
    Time period
    2018/19 to 2024/25
    Data set information page for Absence for pupils with post looked after arrangements (PLAA)
    Create table using Absence for pupils with post looked after arrangements (PLAA)

  • Absence for four year olds

    Local authority, National, Regional

    Overall absence for all enrolments in state-funded primary, state-funded secondary and special schools for pupils aged 4.

    Number of rows
    6,844
    Indicators
    • Overall absence rate
    • Number of schools
    • Number of pupil enrolments
    Filters
    • School type
    Time period
    2012/13 to 2024/25
    Data set information page for Absence for four year olds
    Create table using Absence for four year olds

  • Absence for four year olds - school level

    School

    School level overall absence for all enrolments in state-funded primary, state-funded secondary and special schools for pupils aged 4.

    Number of rows
    180,605
    Indicators
    • Overall absence rate
    • Number of pupil enrolments
    • Number of sessions possible
    Filters
    • School type
    Time period
    2013/14 to 2024/25
    Data set information page for Absence for four year olds - school level
    Create table using Absence for four year olds - school level

  • Absence rate as a percentage of possible sessions by 5% bands with pupil characteristics

    Local authority, National, Regional

    The number of pupil enrolments by overall absence 5 percentage point bands in state-funded primary, state-funded secondary and special schools, by pupil characteristics including SEN, FSM, year group and sex.

    Number of rows
    277,633
    Indicators
    • Number of all pupil enrolments that fall into the 0.00 - 4.99 percent band for overall absence
    • Number of all pupil enrolments that fall into the 10.00 - 14.99 percent band for overall absence
    • Number of all pupil enrolments that fall into the 15.00 - 19.99 percent band for overall absence
    Filters
    • FSM Status
    • National Curriculum Year Group
    • SEN provision
    Time period
    2016/17 to 2024/25
    Data set information page for Absence rate as a percentage of possible sessions by 5% bands with pupil characteristics
    Create table using Absence rate as a percentage of possible sessions by 5% bands with pupil characteristics

  • Absence sessions by reason

    Local authority, National, Regional

    Reasons for absence sessions in full academic years for all pupils enrolments aged 5-15 in state-funded primary, state-funded secondary and special schools.

    Number of rows
    266,041
    Indicators
    • Number of sessions
    • Percentage of sessions
    Filters
    • Absence reason
    • Attendance status
    • Attendance type
    Time period
    2006/07 to 2024/25
    Data set information page for Absence sessions by reason
    Create table using Absence sessions by reason

  • Absence for persistent and severe absentees

    Local authority, National, Regional

    Persistent and severe absentee enrolments in full academic years for all pupils enrolments aged 5-15 in state-funded primary, state-funded secondary and special schools.

    Number of rows
    34,701
    Indicators
    • Count of pupil enrolments
    • Percentage of pupil enrolments
    Filters
    • Absence type
    • School type
    Time period
    2006/07 to 2024/25
    Data set information page for Absence for persistent and severe absentees
    Create table using Absence for persistent and severe absentees
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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’ accredited official statistics release’s underlying data files. 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:

  • reasons for absence
  • absence by pupil characteristic
  • rates of persistent and severe absence
  • separate absence information for state-funded alternative provision (including pupil referral units, 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 except for the children who have post looked after arrangements file where national numbers are rounded and small counts are suppressed to preserve confidentiality. 

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

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.

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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

Opening times

Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 5.30pm (closed on bank holidays)

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