Pupil absence down but truancy up

Truancy in English primary schools is at its highest rate for ten years.

Latest figures show that for every 100 school days, just over half a day is missed due to unauthorised absence. In secondary schools, twice as many days are lost to truancy.

Each primary school pupil misses an average of eight school days per year. The most common reason is illness, followed by family holidays. Overall, attendance at primary and secondary schools has improved as the number of authorised absences has fallen to its lowest level for ten years.

Children who are absent for a fifth of the time, or more, are classed as Persistent Absentees (PA). In primary schools , one in fifty pupils is a PA and they account for more than a quarter of unauthorised absence.

Pupil Absence in Schools in England