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Children who were absent during the first week of school in England in September 2024 were more likely to have ongoing attendance issues throughout the year, according to government data revealed by the BBC. A striking 57% of pupils who missed some time in the initial week ended up being persistently absent, missing at least 10% of school. Conversely, only 14% of students who were present every day in the first week became persistently absent. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson urged schools and parents to prioritize getting students back in class at the beginning of the 2025 term, which commences this week for the majority of English schools.
Conservatives criticized Labour’s Schools Bill, claiming it dismantled a system that had elevated standards over decades. A head teachers’ union emphasized the need for additional support beyond the school environment to enhance attendance. Although attendance problems have always been a struggle for schools, they worsened significantly following the disruptions caused by the 2020 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. While attendance rates have improved since the peak in 2021-22, they still remain higher than the pre-Covid levels. Approximately 18% of pupils were persistently absent during the 2024-25 academic year, down from the peak of 23% in 2021-22 but higher than the pre-pandemic rate of around 11%.
Karl Stewart, the head teacher at Leicester’s Shaftesbury Junior School, observed a decline in attendance post-Covid but noted that it has largely normalized now. The school has implemented various incentives such as awards and competitions to discourage absences, contributing to improved attendance rates. Stewart stressed the positive impacts of daily attendance on students’ academic performance, emphasizing the importance of being present in class. While some parents still opt for unauthorized holidays during term-time to save costs, others take children abroad for medical treatment to avoid lengthy NHS waiting lists.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson expressed concern over persistently high absence levels, warning of the detrimental impact on the future prospects of young individuals. She stressed the importance of every day in school, highlighting the need for schools and parents to collaborate in enhancing attendance. The Department for Education disclosed plans to support 800 schools through regional school improvement teams, including attendance and behavior hubs. Despite the efforts to address attendance challenges, Pepe Di’Iasio of the Association of School and College Leaders emphasized the necessity of a more strategic approach to tackle issues beyond the school gates, such as mental health and anxiety among students
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