Record High Absenteeism in English Schools Revealed in New Data

Government figures show severe absenteeism affecting 2.3% of pupils in 2023/24, with calls for systemic solutions to address underlying causes.

Department for Education data confirms 171,269 pupils were severely absent in 2023/24, the highest number since records began in 2006/07.
Persistent absenteeism affected 20% of pupils last academic year, a slight improvement from 21.2% in 2022/23 but still well above pre-pandemic levels of 10.9%.
The unauthorised absence rate rose to 2.5% in 2023/24, up from 2.4% the previous year and significantly higher than 1.4% in 2018/19.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson criticized schools for insufficient progress on attendance, urging faster action, while school leaders argue fines alone are not effective.
Unions and experts emphasize the need to address mental health, poverty, and shifting parental attitudes to reduce absenteeism and tackle educational inequality.