The latest available absence rates relate to autumn term 2006 and spring term 2007 and are shown in the table:
Percentage of half days missed2 Number of pupil enrolments3 Authorised absence Unauthorised absence Overall absence Schools with less than 100 pupil enrolments2 230,420 4.70 0.31 5.01 Schools with 100 or more pupil enrolments2 3,197,960 4.74 0.54 5.27 All primary schools 3,428,390 4.73 0.52 5.26 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. 2 The number of sessions missed due to authorised/unauthorised/overall absence expressed as a percentage of the total. 3 Number of pupil enrolments in primary schools between 1 September 2006 and 9 April 2007. Includes pupils on the school roll for at least one session who are aged between 5 and 15, excluding boarders. Some pupils may be counted more than once if they moved schools during the school year or are registered in more than one school. Source: School Census