Week 20 2023

Pupil attendance in schools

Data guidance

Published

Rounding

In recognition of the uncertainty around inset days, reporting lag and reduced response rate, rates for week commencing 5 September 2022 have been rounded to 0 decimal places. 

All other figures are unrounded.

Data suppression

Where there is only 1 school in a local authority at daily, weekly, termly or year to date level, the attendance figures are suppressed.

All other figures are unsuppressed.

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.

Pupil attendance since week commencing 12 September - daily

Filename
ees_daily_data.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2022 Week 37 to 2023 Week 20
Content

Daily local authority, regional and national attendance since 12 September 2022, including reasons for absence. Figures are provided for state-funded primary, secondary and special schools. Totals for all schools are also included that include estimates for non-response.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
appointments_percAuthorised appointments absence rate
approved_educational_activitySessions marked as approved educational activity
attendance_dateAttendance Date
attendance_percAttendance rate
auth_excluded_percAuthorised exclusions absence rate
auth_grt_percAuthorised traveller absence rate
auth_holiday_percAuthorised holiday rate
auth_other_percAuthorised other absence rate
auth_religious_percAuthorised religious observance absence rate
auth_study_percAuthorised study leave absence rate
authorised_absenceSessions marked as authorised absence
authorised_absence_percAuthorised absence rate
covid_non_compulsory_percAuthorised not attending due to covid circumstances rate
enrolmentsNumber of enrolments in schools reporting
illness_percAuthorised illness absence rate
late_sessionsSessions marked as late
num_schoolsNumber of schools reporting
overall_absenceSessions marked as absence
overall_absence_percOverall absence rate
overall_attendanceSessions marked at attending (including approved educational activity)
possible_sessionsTotal possible sessions
present_sessionsSessions marked as attending (including late before registers closed)
reason_b_aea_education_off_siteSessions marked as approved education off site
reason_c_authorised_otherSessions marked as authorised other
reason_d_aea_dual_registrationSessions marked as dual registration
reason_e_authorised_excludedSessions marked as authorised excluded
reason_g_unauthorised_holidaySessions marked as unauthorised holiday
reason_h_authorised_holidaySessions marked as authorised holiday
reason_i_authorised_illnessSessions marked as authorised illness
reason_j_aea_interviewSessions marked as approved interview
reason_l_present_late_before_registers_closedSessions marked as late before registers closed
reason_m_authorised_medical_dentalSessions marked as authorised medical or dental appointments
reason_n_no_reason_yetSessions marked as no reason yet
reason_o_other_unauthorisedSessions marked as unauthorised other
reason_p_aea_approved_sporting_activitySessions marked as approved sporting activity
reason_presentSessions marked as attending (excluding late before registers closed)
reason_present_amMorning sessions
reason_present_pmAfternoon sessions
reason_r_authorised_religious_observanceSessions marked as authorised religious observance
reason_s_authorised_study_leaveSessions marked as authorised study leave
reason_t_authorised_grt_absenceSessions marked as authorised traveller absence
reason_u_unauthorised_late_after_registers_closedSessions marked as unauthorised late after registers closed
reason_v_aea_educational_visit_tripSessions marked as approved educational visit or trip
reason_w_aea_work_experienceSessions marked as approved work experience
reason_x_not_attending_covid_non_compulsorySessions marked as not attending due to covid circumstances
school_typeSchool Type
total_enrolmentsTotal number of enrolments from GIAS
total_num_schoolsTotal number of schools from GIAS
unauth_hol_percUnauthorised holiday absence rate
unauth_late_registers_closed_percUnauthorised late absence rate
unauth_not_yet_percUnauthorised no reason yet absence rate
unauth_oth_percUnauthorised other absence rate
unauthorised_absenceSessions marked as unauthorised absence
unauthorised_absence_percUnauthorised absence rate

Pupil attendance since week commencing 12 September - weekly

Filename
ees_weekly_data.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2022 Week 37 to 2023 Week 20
Content

Weekly local authority, regional and national attendance since 12 September 2022, including reasons for absence. Figures are provided for state-funded primary, secondary and special schools. Totals for all schools are also included that include estimates for non-response.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
appointments_percAuthorised appointments absence rate
approved_educational_activitySessions marked as approved educational activity
attendance_percAttendance rate
auth_excluded_percAuthorised exclusions absence rate
auth_grt_percAuthorised traveller absence rate
auth_holiday_percAuthorised holiday rate
auth_other_percAuthorised other absence rate
auth_religious_percAuthorised religious observance absence rate
auth_study_percAuthorised study leave absence rate
authorised_absenceSessions marked as authorised absence
authorised_absence_percAuthorised absence rate
covid_non_compulsory_percAuthorised not attending due to covid circumstances rate
enrolmentsNumber of enrolments in schools reporting
illness_percAuthorised illness absence rate
late_sessionsSessions marked as late
num_schoolsNumber of schools reporting
overall_absenceSessions marked as absence
overall_absence_percOverall absence rate
overall_attendanceSessions marked at attending (including approved educational activity)
possible_sessionsTotal possible sessions
present_sessionsSessions marked as attending (including late before registers closed)
reason_b_aea_education_off_siteSessions marked as approved education off site
reason_c_authorised_otherSessions marked as authorised other
reason_d_aea_dual_registrationSessions marked as dual registration
reason_e_authorised_excludedSessions marked as authorised excluded
reason_g_unauthorised_holidaySessions marked as unauthorised holiday
reason_h_authorised_holidaySessions marked as authorised holiday
reason_i_authorised_illnessSessions marked as authorised illness
reason_j_aea_interviewSessions marked as approved interview
reason_l_present_late_before_registers_closedSessions marked as late before registers closed
reason_m_authorised_medical_dentalSessions marked as authorised medical or dental appointments
reason_n_no_reason_yetSessions marked as no reason yet
reason_o_other_unauthorisedSessions marked as unauthorised other
reason_p_aea_approved_sporting_activitySessions marked as approved sporting activity
reason_presentSessions marked as attending (excluding late before registers closed)
reason_present_amMorning sessions
reason_present_pmAfternoon sessions
reason_r_authorised_religious_observanceSessions marked as authorised religious observance
reason_s_authorised_study_leaveSessions marked as authorised study leave
reason_t_authorised_grt_absenceSessions marked as authorised traveller absence
reason_u_unauthorised_late_after_registers_closedSessions marked as unauthorised late after registers closed
reason_v_aea_educational_visit_tripSessions marked as approved educational visit or trip
reason_w_aea_work_experienceSessions marked as approved work experience
reason_x_not_attending_covid_non_compulsorySessions marked as not attending due to covid circumstances
school_typeSchool Type
total_enrolmentsTotal number of enrolments from GIAS
total_num_schoolsTotal number of schools from GIAS
unauth_hol_percUnauthorised holiday absence rate
unauth_late_registers_closed_percUnauthorised late absence rate
unauth_not_yet_percUnauthorised no reason yet absence rate
unauth_oth_percUnauthorised other absence rate
unauthorised_absenceSessions marked as unauthorised absence
unauthorised_absence_percUnauthorised absence rate

Pupil attendance since week commencing 12 September - year to date

Filename
ees_ytd_data.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2022/23
Content

Year-to-date local authority, regional and national attendance since 12 September 2022, including reasons for absence. Figures are provided for state-funded primary, secondary and special schools. Totals for all schools are also included that include estimates for non-response.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
appointments_percAuthorised appointments absence rate
approved_educational_activitySessions marked as approved educational activity
attendance_percAttendance rate
auth_excluded_percAuthorised exclusions absence rate
auth_grt_percAuthorised traveller absence rate
auth_holiday_percAuthorised holiday rate
auth_other_percAuthorised other absence rate
auth_religious_percAuthorised religious observance absence rate
auth_study_percAuthorised study leave absence rate
authorised_absenceSessions marked as authorised absence
authorised_absence_percAuthorised absence rate
covid_non_compulsory_percAuthorised not attending due to covid circumstances rate
enrolmentsNumber of enrolments in schools reporting
illness_percAuthorised illness absence rate
late_sessionsSessions marked as late
num_schoolsNumber of schools reporting
overall_absenceSessions marked as absence
overall_absence_percOverall absence rate
overall_attendanceSessions marked at attending (including approved educational activity)
pa_percPersistent absence rate
possible_sessionsTotal possible sessions
present_sessionsSessions marked as attending (including late before registers closed)
reason_b_aea_education_off_siteSessions marked as approved education off site
reason_c_authorised_otherSessions marked as authorised other
reason_d_aea_dual_registrationSessions marked as dual registration
reason_e_authorised_excludedSessions marked as authorised excluded
reason_g_unauthorised_holidaySessions marked as unauthorised holiday
reason_h_authorised_holidaySessions marked as authorised holiday
reason_i_authorised_illnessSessions marked as authorised illness
reason_j_aea_interviewSessions marked as approved interview
reason_l_present_late_before_registers_closedSessions marked as late before registers closed
reason_m_authorised_medical_dentalSessions marked as authorised medical or dental appointments
reason_n_no_reason_yetSessions marked as no reason yet
reason_o_other_unauthorisedSessions marked as unauthorised other
reason_p_aea_approved_sporting_activitySessions marked as approved sporting activity
reason_presentSessions marked as attending (excluding late before registers closed)
reason_present_amMorning sessions
reason_present_pmAfternoon sessions
reason_r_authorised_religious_observanceSessions marked as authorised religious observance
reason_s_authorised_study_leaveSessions marked as authorised study leave
reason_t_authorised_grt_absenceSessions marked as authorised traveller absence
reason_u_unauthorised_late_after_registers_closedSessions marked as unauthorised late after registers closed
reason_v_aea_educational_visit_tripSessions marked as approved educational visit or trip
reason_w_aea_work_experienceSessions marked as approved work experience
reason_x_not_attending_covid_non_compulsorySessions marked as not attending due to covid circumstances
school_typeSchool Type
total_enrolmentsTotal number of enrolments from GIAS
total_num_schoolsTotal number of schools from GIAS
unauth_hol_percUnauthorised holiday absence rate
unauth_late_registers_closed_percUnauthorised late absence rate
unauth_not_yet_percUnauthorised no reason yet absence rate
unauth_oth_percUnauthorised other absence rate
unauthorised_absenceSessions marked as unauthorised absence
unauthorised_absence_percUnauthorised absence rate

Pupil attendance between 12 September and 16 December 2022 - Autumn term

Filename
ees_aut_data.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2022/23 Autumn term
Content

Autumn term local authority, regional and national attendance between 12 September and 16 December  2022, including reasons for absence. Figures are provided for state-funded primary, secondary and special schools. Totals for all schools are also included that include estimates for non-response.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
appointments_percAuthorised appointments absence rate
approved_educational_activitySessions marked as approved educational activity
attendance_percAttendance rate
auth_excluded_percAuthorised exclusions absence rate
auth_grt_percAuthorised traveller absence rate
auth_holiday_percAuthorised holiday rate
auth_other_percAuthorised other absence rate
auth_religious_percAuthorised religious observance absence rate
auth_study_percAuthorised study leave absence rate
authorised_absenceSessions marked as authorised absence
authorised_absence_percAuthorised absence rate
covid_non_compulsory_percAuthorised not attending due to covid circumstances rate
enrolmentsNumber of enrolments in schools reporting
illness_percAuthorised illness absence rate
late_sessionsSessions marked as late
num_schoolsNumber of schools reporting
overall_absenceSessions marked as absence
overall_absence_percOverall absence rate
overall_attendanceSessions marked at attending (including approved educational activity)
pa_percPersistent absence rate
possible_sessionsTotal possible sessions
present_sessionsSessions marked as attending (including late before registers closed)
reason_b_aea_education_off_siteSessions marked as approved education off site
reason_c_authorised_otherSessions marked as authorised other
reason_d_aea_dual_registrationSessions marked as dual registration
reason_e_authorised_excludedSessions marked as authorised excluded
reason_g_unauthorised_holidaySessions marked as unauthorised holiday
reason_h_authorised_holidaySessions marked as authorised holiday
reason_i_authorised_illnessSessions marked as authorised illness
reason_j_aea_interviewSessions marked as approved interview
reason_l_present_late_before_registers_closedSessions marked as late before registers closed
reason_m_authorised_medical_dentalSessions marked as authorised medical or dental appointments
reason_n_no_reason_yetSessions marked as no reason yet
reason_o_other_unauthorisedSessions marked as unauthorised other
reason_p_aea_approved_sporting_activitySessions marked as approved sporting activity
reason_presentSessions marked as attending (excluding late before registers closed)
reason_present_amMorning sessions
reason_present_pmAfternoon sessions
reason_r_authorised_religious_observanceSessions marked as authorised religious observance
reason_s_authorised_study_leaveSessions marked as authorised study leave
reason_t_authorised_grt_absenceSessions marked as authorised traveller absence
reason_u_unauthorised_late_after_registers_closedSessions marked as unauthorised late after registers closed
reason_v_aea_educational_visit_tripSessions marked as approved educational visit or trip
reason_w_aea_work_experienceSessions marked as approved work experience
reason_x_not_attending_covid_non_compulsorySessions marked as not attending due to covid circumstances
school_typeSchool Type
total_enrolmentsTotal number of enrolments from GIAS
total_num_schoolsTotal number of schools from GIAS
unauth_hol_percUnauthorised holiday absence rate
unauth_late_registers_closed_percUnauthorised late absence rate
unauth_not_yet_percUnauthorised no reason yet absence rate
unauth_oth_percUnauthorised other absence rate
unauthorised_absenceSessions marked as unauthorised absence
unauthorised_absence_percUnauthorised absence rate

Pupil attendance between 03 January and 31 March 2023 - Spring term

Filename
ees_spr_data.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; National; Regional
Time period
2022/23 Spring term
Content

Spring term local authority, regional and national attendance between 03 January and 31 March 2023, including reasons for absence. Figures are provided for state-funded primary, secondary and special schools. Totals for all schools are also included that include estimates for non-response.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
appointments_percAuthorised appointments absence rate
approved_educational_activitySessions marked as approved educational activity
attendance_percAttendance rate
auth_excluded_percAuthorised exclusions absence rate
auth_grt_percAuthorised traveller absence rate
auth_holiday_percAuthorised holiday rate
auth_other_percAuthorised other absence rate
auth_religious_percAuthorised religious observance absence rate
auth_study_percAuthorised study leave absence rate
authorised_absenceSessions marked as authorised absence
authorised_absence_percAuthorised absence rate
covid_non_compulsory_percAuthorised not attending due to covid circumstances rate
enrolmentsNumber of enrolments in schools reporting
illness_percAuthorised illness absence rate
late_sessionsSessions marked as late
num_schoolsNumber of schools reporting
overall_absenceSessions marked as absence
overall_absence_percOverall absence rate
overall_attendanceSessions marked at attending (including approved educational activity)
pa_percPersistent absence rate
possible_sessionsTotal possible sessions
present_sessionsSessions marked as attending (including late before registers closed)
reason_b_aea_education_off_siteSessions marked as approved education off site
reason_c_authorised_otherSessions marked as authorised other
reason_d_aea_dual_registrationSessions marked as dual registration
reason_e_authorised_excludedSessions marked as authorised excluded
reason_g_unauthorised_holidaySessions marked as unauthorised holiday
reason_h_authorised_holidaySessions marked as authorised holiday
reason_i_authorised_illnessSessions marked as authorised illness
reason_j_aea_interviewSessions marked as approved interview
reason_l_present_late_before_registers_closedSessions marked as late before registers closed
reason_m_authorised_medical_dentalSessions marked as authorised medical or dental appointments
reason_n_no_reason_yetSessions marked as no reason yet
reason_o_other_unauthorisedSessions marked as unauthorised other
reason_p_aea_approved_sporting_activitySessions marked as approved sporting activity
reason_presentSessions marked as attending (excluding late before registers closed)
reason_present_amMorning sessions
reason_present_pmAfternoon sessions
reason_r_authorised_religious_observanceSessions marked as authorised religious observance
reason_s_authorised_study_leaveSessions marked as authorised study leave
reason_t_authorised_grt_absenceSessions marked as authorised traveller absence
reason_u_unauthorised_late_after_registers_closedSessions marked as unauthorised late after registers closed
reason_v_aea_educational_visit_tripSessions marked as approved educational visit or trip
reason_w_aea_work_experienceSessions marked as approved work experience
reason_x_not_attending_covid_non_compulsorySessions marked as not attending due to covid circumstances
school_typeSchool Type
total_enrolmentsTotal number of enrolments from GIAS
total_num_schoolsTotal number of schools from GIAS
unauth_hol_percUnauthorised holiday absence rate
unauth_late_registers_closed_percUnauthorised late absence rate
unauth_not_yet_percUnauthorised no reason yet absence rate
unauth_oth_percUnauthorised other absence rate
unauthorised_absenceSessions marked as unauthorised absence
unauthorised_absence_percUnauthorised absence rate

Persistent absence since Autumn 2016

Filename
ees_pa_chart.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2016/17 Autumn term to 2022/23 Autumn term
Content

National persistent absence figures in Autumn terms from 2016/17 to 2022/23. Figures for 2016/17 to 2021/22 are from school census and 2022/23 are from daily attendance data.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
code_x_persistent_absenceAdditional as a result of Code X
persistent_absencePersistent absence rate
total_persistent_absenceIncluding Code X
Footnotes
  1. Absence refers to children who are absent for authorised and unauthorised reasons, this includes children who are absent with a positive COVID case, but does not include children who are isolating but have not had a confirmed positive case, e.g. as a contact.
  2. COVID non-attendance refers to children who are not attending school due to public health guidelines. For the autumn term 2021, this 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 or as a contact. This differs to previous terms when this code was also used where pupils were advised to shield, were quarantining after returning from abroad, or were in class bubbles advised to isolate. In these circumstances schools are expected to provide remote education.
  3. 31.6% and 8.7% relate to the additional pupils when COVID non-attendance is included. Some of these pupils will have reached 10% or more by a combination of COVID non-attendance and absence.