Week 21 2023

Pupil attendance in schools

Data guidance

Published 15 June 2023

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 21
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 name	Variable description
appointments_perc	Authorised appointments absence rate
approved_educational_activity	Sessions marked as approved educational activity
attendance_date	Attendance Date
attendance_perc	Attendance rate
auth_excluded_perc	Authorised exclusions absence rate
auth_grt_perc	Authorised traveller absence rate
auth_holiday_perc	Authorised holiday rate
auth_other_perc	Authorised other absence rate
auth_religious_perc	Authorised religious observance absence rate
auth_study_perc	Authorised study leave absence rate
authorised_absence	Sessions marked as authorised absence
authorised_absence_perc	Authorised absence rate
covid_non_compulsory_perc	Authorised not attending due to covid circumstances rate
enrolments	Number of enrolments in schools reporting
illness_perc	Authorised illness absence rate
late_sessions	Sessions marked as late
num_schools	Number of schools reporting
overall_absence	Sessions marked as absence
overall_absence_perc	Overall absence rate
overall_attendance	Sessions marked at attending (including approved educational activity)
possible_sessions	Total possible sessions
present_sessions	Sessions marked as attending (including late before registers closed)
reason_b_aea_education_off_site	Sessions marked as approved education off site
reason_c_authorised_other	Sessions marked as authorised other
reason_d_aea_dual_registration	Sessions marked as dual registration
reason_e_authorised_excluded	Sessions marked as authorised excluded
reason_g_unauthorised_holiday	Sessions marked as unauthorised holiday
reason_h_authorised_holiday	Sessions marked as authorised holiday
reason_i_authorised_illness	Sessions marked as authorised illness
reason_j_aea_interview	Sessions marked as approved interview
reason_l_present_late_before_registers_closed	Sessions marked as late before registers closed
reason_m_authorised_medical_dental	Sessions marked as authorised medical or dental appointments
reason_n_no_reason_yet	Sessions marked as no reason yet
reason_o_other_unauthorised	Sessions marked as unauthorised other
reason_p_aea_approved_sporting_activity	Sessions marked as approved sporting activity
reason_present	Sessions marked as attending (excluding late before registers closed)
reason_present_am	Morning sessions
reason_present_pm	Afternoon sessions
reason_r_authorised_religious_observance	Sessions marked as authorised religious observance
reason_s_authorised_study_leave	Sessions marked as authorised study leave
reason_t_authorised_grt_absence	Sessions marked as authorised traveller absence
reason_u_unauthorised_late_after_registers_closed	Sessions marked as unauthorised late after registers closed
reason_v_aea_educational_visit_trip	Sessions marked as approved educational visit or trip
reason_w_aea_work_experience	Sessions marked as approved work experience
reason_x_not_attending_covid_non_compulsory	Sessions marked as not attending due to covid circumstances
school_type	School Type
total_enrolments	Total number of enrolments from GIAS
total_num_schools	Total number of schools from GIAS
unauth_hol_perc	Unauthorised holiday absence rate
unauth_late_registers_closed_perc	Unauthorised late absence rate
unauth_not_yet_perc	Unauthorised no reason yet absence rate
unauth_oth_perc	Unauthorised other absence rate
unauthorised_absence	Sessions marked as unauthorised absence
unauthorised_absence_perc	Unauthorised absence rate

Go to top

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 21
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 name	Variable description
appointments_perc	Authorised appointments absence rate
approved_educational_activity	Sessions marked as approved educational activity
attendance_perc	Attendance rate
auth_excluded_perc	Authorised exclusions absence rate
auth_grt_perc	Authorised traveller absence rate
auth_holiday_perc	Authorised holiday rate
auth_other_perc	Authorised other absence rate
auth_religious_perc	Authorised religious observance absence rate
auth_study_perc	Authorised study leave absence rate
authorised_absence	Sessions marked as authorised absence
authorised_absence_perc	Authorised absence rate
covid_non_compulsory_perc	Authorised not attending due to covid circumstances rate
enrolments	Number of enrolments in schools reporting
illness_perc	Authorised illness absence rate
late_sessions	Sessions marked as late
num_schools	Number of schools reporting
overall_absence	Sessions marked as absence
overall_absence_perc	Overall absence rate
overall_attendance	Sessions marked at attending (including approved educational activity)
possible_sessions	Total possible sessions
present_sessions	Sessions marked as attending (including late before registers closed)
reason_b_aea_education_off_site	Sessions marked as approved education off site
reason_c_authorised_other	Sessions marked as authorised other
reason_d_aea_dual_registration	Sessions marked as dual registration
reason_e_authorised_excluded	Sessions marked as authorised excluded
reason_g_unauthorised_holiday	Sessions marked as unauthorised holiday
reason_h_authorised_holiday	Sessions marked as authorised holiday
reason_i_authorised_illness	Sessions marked as authorised illness
reason_j_aea_interview	Sessions marked as approved interview
reason_l_present_late_before_registers_closed	Sessions marked as late before registers closed
reason_m_authorised_medical_dental	Sessions marked as authorised medical or dental appointments
reason_n_no_reason_yet	Sessions marked as no reason yet
reason_o_other_unauthorised	Sessions marked as unauthorised other
reason_p_aea_approved_sporting_activity	Sessions marked as approved sporting activity
reason_present	Sessions marked as attending (excluding late before registers closed)
reason_present_am	Morning sessions
reason_present_pm	Afternoon sessions
reason_r_authorised_religious_observance	Sessions marked as authorised religious observance
reason_s_authorised_study_leave	Sessions marked as authorised study leave
reason_t_authorised_grt_absence	Sessions marked as authorised traveller absence
reason_u_unauthorised_late_after_registers_closed	Sessions marked as unauthorised late after registers closed
reason_v_aea_educational_visit_trip	Sessions marked as approved educational visit or trip
reason_w_aea_work_experience	Sessions marked as approved work experience
reason_x_not_attending_covid_non_compulsory	Sessions marked as not attending due to covid circumstances
school_type	School Type
total_enrolments	Total number of enrolments from GIAS
total_num_schools	Total number of schools from GIAS
unauth_hol_perc	Unauthorised holiday absence rate
unauth_late_registers_closed_perc	Unauthorised late absence rate
unauth_not_yet_perc	Unauthorised no reason yet absence rate
unauth_oth_perc	Unauthorised other absence rate
unauthorised_absence	Sessions marked as unauthorised absence
unauthorised_absence_perc	Unauthorised absence rate

Go to top

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 name	Variable description
appointments_perc	Authorised appointments absence rate
approved_educational_activity	Sessions marked as approved educational activity
attendance_perc	Attendance rate
auth_excluded_perc	Authorised exclusions absence rate
auth_grt_perc	Authorised traveller absence rate
auth_holiday_perc	Authorised holiday rate
auth_other_perc	Authorised other absence rate
auth_religious_perc	Authorised religious observance absence rate
auth_study_perc	Authorised study leave absence rate
authorised_absence	Sessions marked as authorised absence
authorised_absence_perc	Authorised absence rate
covid_non_compulsory_perc	Authorised not attending due to covid circumstances rate
enrolments	Number of enrolments in schools reporting
illness_perc	Authorised illness absence rate
late_sessions	Sessions marked as late
num_schools	Number of schools reporting
overall_absence	Sessions marked as absence
overall_absence_perc	Overall absence rate
overall_attendance	Sessions marked at attending (including approved educational activity)
pa_perc	Persistent absence rate
possible_sessions	Total possible sessions
present_sessions	Sessions marked as attending (including late before registers closed)
reason_b_aea_education_off_site	Sessions marked as approved education off site
reason_c_authorised_other	Sessions marked as authorised other
reason_d_aea_dual_registration	Sessions marked as dual registration
reason_e_authorised_excluded	Sessions marked as authorised excluded
reason_g_unauthorised_holiday	Sessions marked as unauthorised holiday
reason_h_authorised_holiday	Sessions marked as authorised holiday
reason_i_authorised_illness	Sessions marked as authorised illness
reason_j_aea_interview	Sessions marked as approved interview
reason_l_present_late_before_registers_closed	Sessions marked as late before registers closed
reason_m_authorised_medical_dental	Sessions marked as authorised medical or dental appointments
reason_n_no_reason_yet	Sessions marked as no reason yet
reason_o_other_unauthorised	Sessions marked as unauthorised other
reason_p_aea_approved_sporting_activity	Sessions marked as approved sporting activity
reason_present	Sessions marked as attending (excluding late before registers closed)
reason_present_am	Morning sessions
reason_present_pm	Afternoon sessions
reason_r_authorised_religious_observance	Sessions marked as authorised religious observance
reason_s_authorised_study_leave	Sessions marked as authorised study leave
reason_t_authorised_grt_absence	Sessions marked as authorised traveller absence
reason_u_unauthorised_late_after_registers_closed	Sessions marked as unauthorised late after registers closed
reason_v_aea_educational_visit_trip	Sessions marked as approved educational visit or trip
reason_w_aea_work_experience	Sessions marked as approved work experience
reason_x_not_attending_covid_non_compulsory	Sessions marked as not attending due to covid circumstances
school_type	School Type
total_enrolments	Total number of enrolments from GIAS
total_num_schools	Total number of schools from GIAS
unauth_hol_perc	Unauthorised holiday absence rate
unauth_late_registers_closed_perc	Unauthorised late absence rate
unauth_not_yet_perc	Unauthorised no reason yet absence rate
unauth_oth_perc	Unauthorised other absence rate
unauthorised_absence	Sessions marked as unauthorised absence
unauthorised_absence_perc	Unauthorised absence rate

Go to top

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 name	Variable description
appointments_perc	Authorised appointments absence rate
approved_educational_activity	Sessions marked as approved educational activity
attendance_perc	Attendance rate
auth_excluded_perc	Authorised exclusions absence rate
auth_grt_perc	Authorised traveller absence rate
auth_holiday_perc	Authorised holiday rate
auth_other_perc	Authorised other absence rate
auth_religious_perc	Authorised religious observance absence rate
auth_study_perc	Authorised study leave absence rate
authorised_absence	Sessions marked as authorised absence
authorised_absence_perc	Authorised absence rate
covid_non_compulsory_perc	Authorised not attending due to covid circumstances rate
enrolments	Number of enrolments in schools reporting
illness_perc	Authorised illness absence rate
late_sessions	Sessions marked as late
num_schools	Number of schools reporting
overall_absence	Sessions marked as absence
overall_absence_perc	Overall absence rate
overall_attendance	Sessions marked at attending (including approved educational activity)
pa_perc	Persistent absence rate
possible_sessions	Total possible sessions
present_sessions	Sessions marked as attending (including late before registers closed)
reason_b_aea_education_off_site	Sessions marked as approved education off site
reason_c_authorised_other	Sessions marked as authorised other
reason_d_aea_dual_registration	Sessions marked as dual registration
reason_e_authorised_excluded	Sessions marked as authorised excluded
reason_g_unauthorised_holiday	Sessions marked as unauthorised holiday
reason_h_authorised_holiday	Sessions marked as authorised holiday
reason_i_authorised_illness	Sessions marked as authorised illness
reason_j_aea_interview	Sessions marked as approved interview
reason_l_present_late_before_registers_closed	Sessions marked as late before registers closed
reason_m_authorised_medical_dental	Sessions marked as authorised medical or dental appointments
reason_n_no_reason_yet	Sessions marked as no reason yet
reason_o_other_unauthorised	Sessions marked as unauthorised other
reason_p_aea_approved_sporting_activity	Sessions marked as approved sporting activity
reason_present	Sessions marked as attending (excluding late before registers closed)
reason_present_am	Morning sessions
reason_present_pm	Afternoon sessions
reason_r_authorised_religious_observance	Sessions marked as authorised religious observance
reason_s_authorised_study_leave	Sessions marked as authorised study leave
reason_t_authorised_grt_absence	Sessions marked as authorised traveller absence
reason_u_unauthorised_late_after_registers_closed	Sessions marked as unauthorised late after registers closed
reason_v_aea_educational_visit_trip	Sessions marked as approved educational visit or trip
reason_w_aea_work_experience	Sessions marked as approved work experience
reason_x_not_attending_covid_non_compulsory	Sessions marked as not attending due to covid circumstances
school_type	School Type
total_enrolments	Total number of enrolments from GIAS
total_num_schools	Total number of schools from GIAS
unauth_hol_perc	Unauthorised holiday absence rate
unauth_late_registers_closed_perc	Unauthorised late absence rate
unauth_not_yet_perc	Unauthorised no reason yet absence rate
unauth_oth_perc	Unauthorised other absence rate
unauthorised_absence	Sessions marked as unauthorised absence
unauthorised_absence_perc	Unauthorised absence rate

Go to top

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 name	Variable description
appointments_perc	Authorised appointments absence rate
approved_educational_activity	Sessions marked as approved educational activity
attendance_perc	Attendance rate
auth_excluded_perc	Authorised exclusions absence rate
auth_grt_perc	Authorised traveller absence rate
auth_holiday_perc	Authorised holiday rate
auth_other_perc	Authorised other absence rate
auth_religious_perc	Authorised religious observance absence rate
auth_study_perc	Authorised study leave absence rate
authorised_absence	Sessions marked as authorised absence
authorised_absence_perc	Authorised absence rate
covid_non_compulsory_perc	Authorised not attending due to covid circumstances rate
enrolments	Number of enrolments in schools reporting
illness_perc	Authorised illness absence rate
late_sessions	Sessions marked as late
num_schools	Number of schools reporting
overall_absence	Sessions marked as absence
overall_absence_perc	Overall absence rate
overall_attendance	Sessions marked at attending (including approved educational activity)
pa_perc	Persistent absence rate
possible_sessions	Total possible sessions
present_sessions	Sessions marked as attending (including late before registers closed)
reason_b_aea_education_off_site	Sessions marked as approved education off site
reason_c_authorised_other	Sessions marked as authorised other
reason_d_aea_dual_registration	Sessions marked as dual registration
reason_e_authorised_excluded	Sessions marked as authorised excluded
reason_g_unauthorised_holiday	Sessions marked as unauthorised holiday
reason_h_authorised_holiday	Sessions marked as authorised holiday
reason_i_authorised_illness	Sessions marked as authorised illness
reason_j_aea_interview	Sessions marked as approved interview
reason_l_present_late_before_registers_closed	Sessions marked as late before registers closed
reason_m_authorised_medical_dental	Sessions marked as authorised medical or dental appointments
reason_n_no_reason_yet	Sessions marked as no reason yet
reason_o_other_unauthorised	Sessions marked as unauthorised other
reason_p_aea_approved_sporting_activity	Sessions marked as approved sporting activity
reason_present	Sessions marked as attending (excluding late before registers closed)
reason_present_am	Morning sessions
reason_present_pm	Afternoon sessions
reason_r_authorised_religious_observance	Sessions marked as authorised religious observance
reason_s_authorised_study_leave	Sessions marked as authorised study leave
reason_t_authorised_grt_absence	Sessions marked as authorised traveller absence
reason_u_unauthorised_late_after_registers_closed	Sessions marked as unauthorised late after registers closed
reason_v_aea_educational_visit_trip	Sessions marked as approved educational visit or trip
reason_w_aea_work_experience	Sessions marked as approved work experience
reason_x_not_attending_covid_non_compulsory	Sessions marked as not attending due to covid circumstances
school_type	School Type
total_enrolments	Total number of enrolments from GIAS
total_num_schools	Total number of schools from GIAS
unauth_hol_perc	Unauthorised holiday absence rate
unauth_late_registers_closed_perc	Unauthorised late absence rate
unauth_not_yet_perc	Unauthorised no reason yet absence rate
unauth_oth_perc	Unauthorised other absence rate
unauthorised_absence	Sessions marked as unauthorised absence
unauthorised_absence_perc	Unauthorised absence rate

Go to top

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 name	Variable description
code_x_persistent_absence	Additional as a result of Code X
persistent_absence	Persistent absence rate
total_persistent_absence	Including Code X

Footnotes

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.
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.
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.

Go to top