Phillipson: country faces “generational challenge” from school absence as one in four 12-year-olds risk missing half of a school year

Labour is set to unveil plans to tackle the “generational challenge” of children missing school after new data showed more than one in four current Year 7s could miss the equivalent of half an academic year (95 days) over the course of their secondary education if current trends persist.  

Labour analysis of Department for Education persistent absence data shows that, in the 2021/2022 school year, 27.7% of secondary school pupils (around 1.6 million) were classed as ‘persistently absent’ – meaning they missed out on at least 10% of school sessions.  

Absence figures have skyrocketed over recent years, increasing by more than 40% since 2010. The number of students recorded as being severely absent (i.e. missing more than 50% of school) has nearly tripled in the same period, with over 88,000 secondary school students missing at least half of their education last year.  

The figures will fuel concerns over long-term attainment prospects in secondary schools. A recent report by the Children’s Commissioner found that children who were persistently absent over years 10 and 11 were half as likely to pass five GCSEs than their peers with improved attendance records.  

The data also points sharp regional divides with children in secondary school receiving Free School Meals more than twice as likely to be persistently absent than their peers not eligible for Free School Meals.  

In Knowsley, in Merseyside, 40% of secondary school children were recorded as being persistently absent, compared to 19.9% in Wandsworth. 

The data comes ahead of a major speech on Labour’s vision for schools by the Shadow Education Secretary, in which the Shadow Secretary of State is expect to lay out a plan for tackling stubbornly high rates of persistent absence.  
 
Bridget Phillipson MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, is expected to say: 
 
“The Conservatives have nothing to say about the broken relationship between schools and families that has provoked the cities we’re seeing in attendance - these measures are only tinkering around the edges of a generational challenge.  

“Persistent absence has reached historic levels under the Conservatives, beginning even before the pandemic, and they cannot be trusted to fix a problem that they have caused. 

“Only Labour has a long term plan to tackle the attendance crisis and drive the high and rising standards our children deserve.  

 
“That plan starts with additional mental health counsellors in secondary schools, mental health hubs in every community and universal free breakfast clubs for every primary school pupil to boost attendance.”  

 
Ends 

Notes

Source:https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/pupil-absence-in-schools-in-england/2021-22 

• "1-in-4 year 7s could miss the equivalent of half an academic year... 

o      Methodology:  

o      DfE advise that 27.7% (i.e. more than 1-in-4) of pupils are classed as "persistently absent" in secondary school. Schools must open for at least 190 days (380 sessions) in an academic year, of which at least 19 would be missed each year if new year 7 students followed the secondary school absence trend. Extrapolating that across 5 years results in an estimation of 95 missed school days for a quarter of secondary school children. 

• "A recent report by the Children’s Commissioner found that..." Children's Commissioner - Missing Children Missing Grades (November 2023)