Data from the Department for Education reveals a worrying increase in student absenteeism across England, with disadvantaged students and young carers most affected. Calls for increased mental health support and tailored strategies grow amidst the crisis.
The Department for Education in England released data indicating a marked increase in student absenteeism during the 2022-23 academic year. Reports highlighted that 150,000 state school students were severely absent, showing a 30,000 rise from the previous year and representing a 150% increase from pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. The overall national absence rate, however, saw a marginal improvement, decreasing from 2.4% to 2.1%.
A worrying trend emerged regarding unauthorised absences, which spiked from 2.1% to 2.4%, nearly doubling the rate before the pandemic. Disadvantaged students and young carers were particularly affected, with those receiving free school meals twice as likely to be absent. Meanwhile, 39% of young carers were persistently absent, missing an average of 23 days of school.
To combat rising absenteeism, initiatives such as “attendance mentors” and increased fines for unauthorised absences have been introduced. An independent evaluation of a mentoring pilot program, however, revealed mixed outcomes. Geoff Barton, from the Association of School and College Leaders, stressed the necessity for enhanced mental health support for students to encourage regular attendance.
Furthermore, the Department for Education found that approximately two in three special schools in England were operating at or beyond capacity, struggling to accommodate the influx of 4,000 additional pupils. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan promised a £105 million investment for the construction of 15 new special free schools to create over 2,000 additional places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
These revelations have fuelled calls for immediate government action to address absenteeism and SEND provision shortfalls, with figures like shadow schools minister Catherine McKinnell advocating for increased mental health professional funding and the introduction of free breakfast clubs in primary schools.
Scotland reported even higher absentee rates, with 41% of secondary and 32% of primary pupils persistently absent during the same academic year, underscoring a widespread issue across the UK and the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate it.
