National data
The figures express the amount of missed half-day sessions as a percentage of all possible half-day sessions.
| Primary schools |
2017/18 |
2018/19 |
2020/21 All terms |
2020/21 Autumn |
2020/21 Spring |
2020/21 Summer |
| Overall absence |
4.2 |
4.0 |
3.6 |
3.7 |
2.7 |
4.4 |
| Unauthorised absence |
1.1 |
1.1 |
0.9 |
1 |
0.4 |
1.3 |
| Secondary schools |
2017/18 |
2018/19 |
2020/21 All terms |
2020/21 Autumn |
2020/21 Spring |
2020/21 Summer |
| Overall absence |
5.5 |
5.5 |
5.5 |
5.7 |
3.2 |
7.5 |
| Unauthorised absence |
1.6 |
1.8 |
1.6 |
1.8 |
0.7 |
2.4 |
| Special schools |
2017/18 |
2018/19 |
2020/21 All terms |
2020/21 Autumn |
2020/21 Spring |
2020/21 Summer |
| Overall absence |
10.2 |
10.1 |
15.7 |
10.6 |
25.5 |
11 |
| Unauthorised absence |
2.2 |
2.3 |
2.1 |
2.3 |
1.3 |
2.6 |
| All schools |
2017/18 |
2018/19 |
2020/21 All terms |
2020/21 Autumn |
2020/21 Spring |
2020/21 Summer |
| Overall absence |
4.8 |
4.7 |
4.6 |
4.7 |
3.3 |
5.8 |
| Unauthorised absence |
1.4 |
1.4 |
1.2 |
1.4 |
0.5 |
1.8 |
The absence rates in the tables above do not include absence due to coronavirus-related reasons (self-isolation, shielding and post-travel quarantine) as these were captured separately (see the 'reasons for absence' section below). However, the rates do include absence due to confirmed cases of COVID-19, as these were marked as 'absent due to illness'
The rate of overall absence in special schools was substantially higher in the spring term compared to other terms. This is because during the spring-term national lockdown, vulnerable pupils were prioritised to continue attending school, but where a parent wanted their child to be absent, schools were advised
