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.
Quick links
- Published
Headline facts and figures
Overall absence rate
6.47%
in autumn term 2025/26, up from 6.38% in autumn 2024/25
What is the overall absence rate?
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.
Percentage of persistent absentees (10% or more missed)
18.10%
in autumn term 2025/26, up from 17.79% in autumn 2024/25
What is a persistent absentee?
A pupil enrolment is identified as a persistent absentee if they miss 10% or more of their possible sessions.
Percentage of severe absentees (50% or more missed)
2.12%
in autumn term 2025/26, up from 2.04% in autumn 2024/25
What is a severe absentee?
A pupil enrolment is identified as a severe absentee if they miss 50% or more of their possible sessions.
Overall , persistent and severe absence rates increased compared to the previous autumn term
- 6.47% of possible sessions were recorded as absence in autumn term 2025/26, an increase from 6.38% in autumn 2024/25. The overall absence rate remains higher than pre-pandemic rates which were consistently below 5%.
- Illness continues to be the most common reason for absence, accounting for 3.37% of possible sessions. The level of absence due to illness was higher compared to the previous autumn term, and remains higher than the pre-pandemic levels.
- 18.10% of pupils were persistently absent in autumn 2025/26 (i.e. missed 10% or more sessions), up from 17.79% in autumn 2024/25.
- 2.12% of pupils were severely absent in autumn 2025/26 (i.e. missed 50% or more sessions), up from 2.04% in autumn 2024/25.
Background information
We are undertaking a review of this publication and welcome feedback from users on the frequency of release and which, if any, underlying data files are currently used - email us to provide feedback.
Overall absence
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 increased compared to the previous autumn term
The overall absence rate increased to 6.47% in autumn term 2025/26, up from 6.38% in the previous autumn term. This is still above pre-pandemic levels of under 5%. Authorised and unauthorised absence rates have both increased slightly compared to the previous autumn term, by 0.07 and 0.02 percentage points, respectively.
Overall absence increased across all school types
Between autumn term 2024/25 and autumn term 2025/26, overall absence:
- increased in primary schools from 5.07% to 5.12%
- increased in secondary schools from 7.66% to 7.75%
- increased in special schools from 12.55% to 12.73%
Authorised absence rates increased in primary and secondary schools, but decreased in special schools. Unauthorised absence rates increased in primary and special schools, but decreased slightly in secondary.
The most common reason recorded for absence continued to be illness
Illness remained the most common reason recorded for absence, accounting for 3.37% of possible sessions. This represents a slight increase from 3.31% in the previous autumn term and remains above the pre-pandemic trend, which was typically below 3%.
Some changes to absence codes were introduced at the start of the 2024/25 academic year, as set out in the working together to improve school attendance (opens in new tab). Since then, absence for holidays during term time can not be authorised and new codes were introduced to record authorised absences due to attending an interview, taking part in a regulated performance, or having a temporary part-time timetable.
Persistent and severe absence
A pupil enrolment is identified as persistently absent if 10% or more of possible sessions are missed, and severely absent if 50% or more of possible sessions are missed.
The rates of both persistent and severe absence increased compared to the previous autumn term
1.29 million (18.10%) pupils were persistently absent in autumn term 2025/26, an increase from 1.28 million (17.79%) in the previous autumn term.
151,000 (2.12%) pupils were severely absent in autumn 2025/26, an increase from 148,000 (2.04%) in the previous autumn term.
Persistent absence rates increased across all school types
Between autumn 2024/25 and autumn 2025/26, the rate of persistent absence
- increased in primary schools, from 14.29% to 14.39%
- increased in secondary schools, from 21.09% to 21.53%
- increased in special schools, from 34.90% to 35.09%
Severe absence rates increased in primary and special schools and decreased in secondary schools
Between autumn 2024/25 and autumn 2025/26, the rate of severe absence
- increased in primary schools, from 0.89% to 1.02%
- decreased in secondary schools, from 3.19% to 3.16%
- increased in special schools, from 6.32% to 6.55%
A further breakdown of pupil enrolments by the percentage of sessions missed is available in the data catalogue of this release.
Please note: these pupils were recorded on the school census as being on the roll of a school, and had possible sessions recorded during the academic year. For information on the number of children who are not in education, please see: Children missing education.
Pupil characteristics
The following section looks at absence rates by pupil characteristics, including Free school meal (FSM) eligibility, special educational needs (SEN) provision, year group, sex and ethnicity. Data for unclassified or unknown characteristics are not presented in the tables due to low numbers, which lead to volatile rates.
For context, during the autumn term 2025/26, the overall absence rate for all pupils was 6.47%. The persistent absence rate was 18.10%, while the severe absence rate was 2.12%.
Absence rates continued to be higher for pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM)
Compared with autumn 2024/25, absence rates worsened for FSM-eligible pupils in autumn 2025/26, with increases in overall, persistent and severe absence. In contrast, non-FSM eligible pupils saw overall and persistent absence rates decrease, while the severe absence rate remained stable.
The rate overall absence for FSM eligible pupils continued to be almost twice that of pupils not eligible. FSM eligible pupils continued to be more than twice as likely to be a persistent absentee, and over three and a half times more likely to be a severe absentee, than pupils not eligible for FSM.
Absence rates continued to be higher for pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Overall absence for pupils with an education, health and care (EHC) plan and pupils with SEN support increased in autumn 2025/26, compared to the previous autumn. Overall absence rates decreased for pupils with no identified SEN.
Persistent absence rates increased across all pupil groups compared to the previous autumn term, but rates remained higher for pupils with SEN than for those with no identified SEN.
Severe absence rates increased for pupils with EHC plans, but decreased for SEN support and no identified SEN. Compared with pupils with no identified SEN, pupils with EHC plans are almost eight times as likely to be severe absentees, while pupils receiving SEN support are almost four times as likely.
Absence rates continued to peak in Years 10 and 11
Generally, absence rates increase as age increases. The highest overall absence and severe absence rates were in Year 11 at 9.26% and 4.13% respectively. Persistent absence was highest in Year 10 at 24.67%. Year 1 and below and Year 11 were the only year groups to see a decrease in overall absence rate.
Irish traveller and Gypsy/Roma pupils continued to have the highest overall absence rates
In autumn term 2025/26, Irish Traveller and Gypsy/Roma pupils continued to have the highest overall absence rates at 20.90% and 16.58%, respectively. Chinese and Black African pupils had the lowest overall absence rates at 2.65% and 3.48% respectively. Irish Traveller and Gypsy/Roma pupils also continue to have the highest persistent and severe absence rates.
Compared to the previous autumn term, overall absence rates increased for most ethnicities. Rates decreased slightly for pupils from other Black/African/Caribbean and other White backgrounds, while rates for African, Indian and other ethnic groups remained unchanged.
Female pupils continued to have slightly lower overall and persistent absence rates
Compared to the previous autumn term, absence rates during autumn 2025/26 increased for both female and male pupils. Female pupils continued to have slightly lower overall and persistent absence compared to male pupils, while male pupils continued to have marginally lower severe absence rates.
Ethnicity by FSM eligibility
Further information on suspensions and permanent exclusions by ethnicity and FSM eligibility is available in the data catalogue, or you can create your own tables using the table tool.
Geographical variations
Absence rates continued to be lowest in London and highest in the North East
London continued to have the lowest overall, persistent, and severe absence rates at 5.86%, 16.73% and 1.52%, respectively.
The North East had the highest overall (7.13%) and persistent absence (20.55%) rates, while Yorkshire and The Humber had the highest severe absence rate at 2.52%.
Overall absence rates varied across local authorities from 3.93% in the City of London (which contained one school) to 8.21% in Knowsley. Richmond upon Thames had the second lowest rate at 5.05%.
Absence in state-funded alternative provision
State-funded alternative provision (AP) includes pupil referral units, alternative provision academies and alternative provision free schools.
Absence in state-funded alternative provision increased compared to the previous autumn term
Overall absence in state-funded AP was 41.35% in autumn term 2025/26, up from 40.94% in autumn 2024/25. Both persistent and severe absence continued to increase compared to autumn 2024/25. The increase in overall absence was driven by increases in both authorised and unauthorised absence rates.
Further absence and attendance data sources
Further data from this release is available in the data catalogue, or you can create your own tables using the table tool including:
- absence by pupil characteristics including SEN primary need
- pupil enrolments with one or more absences
- school level absence
- absence for 4 year olds
Official statistics produced from daily data submitted automatically by schools to the Department are available in the Pupil attendance in schools publication. Due to the timeliness of the data the figures are estimates that we expect to change as registers are adjusted. They should be viewed as an early indicator for the data provided in later accredited official statistics releases.
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.ukContact 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)