Attendance of pupils in maintained schools: 5 September to 28 October 2022

This headline presents information on the attendance of pupils in schools during the current academic year.

All data in this headline is based on the definition of attendance that was in use and published before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The data here are not comparable with the data published during the pandemic for 2020/21 and 2021/22. For more details see the quality section below and accompanying spreadsheet.

Main points

• The average attendance for this academic year to date is 91.3%.
• An average of 90.3% of half-day school sessions were recorded as present for pupils aged 5 to 15 over the week of 24 to 28 October 2022, down from 90.7% the week before. The figure for 17 to 21 October 2022 has been revised down from 90.8%. Data for the latest two weeks is provisional.
• An average of 6.7% of half-day school sessions were recorded as authorised absence for pupils aged 5 to 15 over the week of 24 to 28 October 2022, up from 6.6% the week before.
• An average of 3.1% of half-day school sessions were recorded as unauthorised absence for pupils aged 5 to 15 over the week of 24 to 28 October 2022, up from 2.6% the week before.
• There has been little difference in the attendance rate by gender for the academic year to date, 91.3% for boys and 91.2% for girls.
• The attendance rate by year group for the academic year to date has been highest for pupils in Year 7 (93.3%) and lowest for pupils in Year 11 (87.3%).
• The attendance rate for the academic year to date has been higher for pupils not eligible for free school meals (92.9%) than pupils who are eligible for free school meals (86.6%).
• The most common reason for absence for the academic year to date has been illness, with 49.4% of sessions missed being for this reason.

Quality

This data is management information extracted from school management information systems once a week. This data has not undergone the same level of quality assurance as official statistics and the data may be subject to future revisions. The figures for the latest two weeks should be treated as provisional. Earlier figures are final and are not subject to change.

All data in this headline is based on the definition of attendance that was in use and published before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The data here are not comparable with the data published during the pandemic for 2020/21 and 2021/22.

The main differences in definitions

• Data is presented as the percentage of half day sessions missed instead of the percentage of pupils absent.
• Data is for pupils of statutory school age only (aged 5 to 15) instead of data for all ages.
• Data is for pupils in primary, middle, secondary and special schools only and does not include data for nursery schools or pupil referral units.
• Code Y (partial and forced closure) is now counted as "not required to attend" rather than 'absent'. 

Comparability

All 4 nations are publishing regular data on attendance in school. We do not advise making comparisons between the nations due to differences in data collection methods, presentation and definitions.

National Statistics status

These statistics are not National Statistics and have been produced quickly in response to developing national and local events.