Record High in Pupil Absence Signals Deepening Educational Challenges
New figures reveal a concerning trend in student attendance, with the proportion of pupils missing more than half of their classes reaching an unprecedented high in the past academic year. This development underscores the persistent challenges in addressing school absenteeism, even as some broader attendance metrics show signs of improvement.
In the 2024/25 academic year, a record 2.39 per cent of students were classified as ‘severely absent,’ meaning they missed 50 per cent or more of their scheduled school sessions. This figure represents an increase from 2.3 per cent in the preceding year and marks a significant escalation since the 0.85 per cent recorded in the 2018/19 academic year, prior to the global pandemic. The most recent rise translates to an additional 5,100 pupils falling into the severely absent category.
These statistics, compiled by the Department for Education and covering the initial year of the current government’s tenure, suggest that the issue of school refusal is becoming increasingly entrenched within the education system.
Daniel Lilley, head of youth at the Centre for Social Justice, highlighted the critical role of education in a child’s future. “A good education can provide a golden ticket to a better life,” he stated, “but in order to take advantage of it, you need to be at school.” He added, “The number of vulnerable pupils missing more school than they attend has hit yet another tragic record. To rescue these young people falling out of the education system, ministers must adopt our plan to take on the root causes of this disaster of missed learning.”
Despite the alarming rise in severe absence, the data also indicates a deceleration in the rate of increase for this specific category. The growth in severe absence between the 2023/24 and 2024/25 academic years was the smallest observed since 2018/19.
Key Factors Influencing Absence Rates:
- Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND): The increase in severe absence was largely driven by pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) who have education, health and care plans.
- Non-SEND Pupils: Encouragingly, the number of pupils without SEND who were severely absent actually decreased between the 2023/24 and 2024/25 academic years.
Furthermore, while severe absence has climbed, the post-pandemic surge in general absenteeism and ‘persistent absentees’ (pupils missing 10 per cent or more of their classes) has been on a gradual downward trajectory for several years.
Attendance Metrics Showing Gradual Recovery
The proportion of persistent absentees fell to 18.14 per cent in 2024/25, down from 19.95 per cent the previous year. However, this figure remains considerably higher than the 10.86 per cent recorded in 2018/19.
The overall absence rate also saw a decrease, dropping from 7.15 per cent in 2023/24 to 6.78 per cent in the most recent academic year. Nevertheless, this rate still significantly exceeds pre-pandemic levels.
Charity Impetus noted that at the current pace of improvement, it could take an additional five years for persistent absence rates to return to pre-pandemic benchmarks. For pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, the timeline is even longer, potentially extending to nine years.
Susannah Hardyman, Chief Executive of Impetus, emphasised the urgency, stating that children currently in school “cannot afford to wait another five years.”
Positive Trends and Government Initiatives
On a more optimistic note, the improvements in overall attendance have led to a significant increase in the number of students attending school regularly. Compared to the 2023/24 academic year, approximately 228,000 more pupils achieved 95 per cent attendance or higher.
Persistent absence has also declined across all regions of England, with notable progress observed in the North East and South West.
A spokesperson for the Department for Education (DfE) affirmed the government’s commitment: “Every child deserves to be in school, learning and thriving. We have made real progress – absence is down and persistent absence has plummeted with over 225,000 more children attending school almost every day.”
The spokesperson acknowledged that further action is needed, particularly for children with SEND. “But we know there’s more to do particularly for children with Send. We have launched the biggest reform to the Send system in a generation with work already under way, ensuring children get the right support earlier, in a school near them. Combined with free breakfast clubs, mental health support teams, and our attendance and behaviour hubs, we are tackling the root causes of absence and building a system where every child, whatever their background or needs, can achieve and thrive.”
In February, the government outlined comprehensive SEND reforms aimed at fostering a more inclusive system. A key objective is to increase the number of school days attended by children by 20 million annually by 2028/29, compared to the 2023/24 baseline.
To support these efforts, 93 hubs have been established, designed to assist approximately 3,000 schools nationwide in enhancing attendance and behaviour management strategies.
