File variety of pupils in England ‘severely absent’ from faculty | Training

Total, 171,269 pupils have been classed as severely absent final tutorial 12 months, up from 150,256 in 2022/23. It’s the highest quantity recorded because the present DfE knowledge started in 2006/07. In 2018/19, the final tutorial 12 months earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic, 60,247 have been classed as severely absent.

A college leaders’ union warned final week that some households see faculty as “elective” because the pandemic. The newest DfE knowledge, revealed on Thursday, means that the variety of unauthorised pupil absences from colleges in England elevated final 12 months.

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The unauthorised absence price rose from 2.4% in 2022/23 to 2.5% in 2023/24, in line with the figures. In 2018/19, the speed was only one.4%. Final week, Training Secretary Bridget Phillipson known as on faculty and school leaders to “catch up quick” to enhance pupil attendance, as she stated that some colleges have been “not making sufficient progress” on absences.

Total, the absence price decreased from 7.4% in 2022/23 to 7.1% in 2023/24, however it stays increased than pre-pandemic charges of 4.7%, the info suggests. One in 5 (20.0%) of pupils in England, about 1.49 million younger individuals, have been “persistently absent” in the course of the 2023/24 faculty 12 months, which suggests they missed 10% or extra faculty periods.

That is down from 2022/23 when 21.2% of pupils have been persistently absent, however it’s nonetheless above the speed in 2018/19 (10.9%). The previous Conservative authorities introduced plans to hike fines for pupil absences in February final 12 months to spice up attendance because the pandemic. In September, faculty absence fines in England rose from £60 to £80, and a mum or dad who receives a second advantageous for a similar youngster inside a three-year interval will now obtain a £160 advantageous.

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The newest knowledge covers the final tutorial 12 months earlier than fines for unauthorised absences have been elevated. Pepe Di’Iasio, normal secretary of the Affiliation of Faculty and School Leaders (ASCL), stated: “It’s clear that there are nonetheless far too many youngsters lacking out on important parts of their training. “Though there are indicators of enchancment in some areas, the charges of persistent and extreme absence stay an actual concern.” He added: “We have to settle for that colleges can’t resolve this concern on their very own and should set out clear expectations and plans for folks, authorities, colleges and different companies to work collectively in the very best pursuits of younger individuals. “This have to be backed with funding to make sure there may be ample capability within the system for all youngsters to get any extra help they require to have the ability to attend faculty frequently. “With out investing in a strategic response to this concern, it’s tough to see how attendance charges are going to alter on the scale required.”

In a speech in Liverpool on Saturday, Mr Di’Iasio stated faculty had turn into “elective” for some households because the pandemic and he added that the “blunt instrument” of fines for unauthorised absences was not reversing the development.

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