The first year for which information is available on absence rates by national curriculum year groups is 2005/06 and relates to secondary schools only. This analysis was published in Statistical First Release 11/2007 in March 2007 at: (http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000718/index.shtml) and is provided as follows.
Data for 2006/07 are expected to be available in February 2008 and will also include figures for primary and special schools.
Maintained secondary schools City technology colleges Percentage of half days missed3 Percentage of half days missed3 National curriculum year group Number of day pupils of compulsory school age4 Authorised absence Unauthorised absence Overall absence Number of day pupils of compulsory school age4 Authorised absence Unauthorised absence Overall absence 6 and below 51,530 5.35 0.28 5.63 0 n/a n/a n/a 7 562,230 5.74 0.58 6.32 1,890 4.29 0.11 4.40 8 573,050 6.48 0.90 7.38 1,870 4.90 0.20 5.10 9 592,550 6.76 1.29 8.06 1,860 5.74 0.34 6.08 10 595,570 6.98 1.84 8.82 1,930 5.99 0.35 6.34 11 575,850 8.06 2.43 10.49 1,880 6.03 0.72 6.75 12 and above 790 5.28 3.38 8.66 5— 5— 5— 5— Total6 2,951,570 6.82 1.42 8.24 9,430 5.45 0.35 5.81
Percentage of half days missed3 Percentage of half days missed3 National curriculum year group Number of day pupils of compulsory school age4 Authorised absence Unauthorised absence Overall absence Number of day pupils of compulsory school age4 Authorised absence Unauthorised absence Overall absence 6 and below 600 n/a n/a n/a 52,130 5.35 0.28 5.63 7 5,030 5.61 1.11 6.72 569,150 5.73 0.58 6.31 8 4,770 6.41 1.58 8.00 579,690 6.48 0.90 7.38 9 4,350 6.98 2.58 9.55 598,760 6.76 1.30 8.06 10 3,720 7.34 3.49 10.83 601,220 6.98 1.84 8.82 11 3,570 6.94 3.89 10.84 581,300 8.05 2.43 10.48 12 and above 10 3.57 4.54 8.11 800 5.26 3.40 8.66 Total6 22,050 6.63 2.42 9.05 2,983,040 6.82 1.42 8.24 n/a = Not applicable 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. 2 See Notes to Editors 10 of SFR11/2007 for further information on how absence figures by national curriculum year group have been derived. 3 The number of sessions missed due to authorised/unauthorised/overall absence expressed as a percentage of the total number of possible sessions. 4 Pupil numbers are as at January 2006. Includes pupils aged 5 to 15 with sole and dual (main) registration. Excludes boarders. 5 Less than 5 pupils, or absence rates based on a small number of pupils. 6 Includes pupil enrolments for whom information on national curriculum year group was missing. Notes: Totals may not appear to equal the sum of the component parts because numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: School Census