Number of pupils persistently absent almost doubles

Department for Education figures for part of the last academic year indicate that 1.6 million pupils (23.5 per cent) were persistently absent across the autumn and spring terms in the past school year.

This level of absence would equate to missing 10 per cent of lessons, or seven days a term. The figure compares with 13 per cent in the autumn of 2020.

Recent analysis of the data by Lee Elliot Major shows that half a million of the poorest children were persistently absent from school months after lockdowns ended. He is quoted as saying:

“While national attendance figures are looking slightly better this term, initial reports suggest that as many as half of poorer pupils are still not returning to school. The most successful schools are putting huge resources into home visits. Mentors are also being trained to support pupils, the stakes for the pandemic generation could not be higher”

Rachel de Souza, the children’s commissioner, is reported as saying a new live attendance dashboard – which thousands of schools now use – will help “the right actions be taken” and would like a “consistent unique identifier” to better track attendance.