The information is as follows:
IDACI Decile (0-10 per cent. = most deprived) Reason of absence 0-10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70 70-80 80-90 90-100 Illness 3.47 3.54 3.44 3.29 3.18 3.07 2.94 2.81 2.67 2.58 Medical/dental appointments 0.28 0.29 0.28 0.28 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.26 0.25 0.23 Religious observance 0.27 0.16 0.09 0.06 0.05 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.02 Study leave 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Traveller absence 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.02 Agreed holiday 0.49 0.58 0.65 0.70 0.73 0.76 0.75 0.76 0.77 0.75 Agreed extended holiday 0.05 0.05 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.01 Excluded 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 Other authorised 0.38 0.36 0.32 0.29 0.28 0.26 0.24 0.21 0.20 0.20 Total authorised5 5.28 5.28 5.08 4.90 4.75 4.61 4.44 4.27 4.14 3.98 Holiday not agreed 0.13 0.12 0.11 0.09 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.07 0.07 0.06 Arrived late 0.09 0.08 0.08 0.07 0.05 0.05 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.02 Other unauthorised 0.65 0.51 0.39 0.29 0.23 0.19 0.15 0.13 0.10 0.08 No reason yet 0.25 0.20 0.17 0.13 0.11 0.10 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.05 Total unauthorised5 1.20 0.96 0.77 0.60 0.51 0.43 0.35 0.30 0.26 0.23 Total overall5 6.47 6.24 5.85 5.50 5.25 5.04 4.78 4.57 4.40 4.21
IDACI Decile (0-10 per cent. = most deprived) Reason of absence 0-10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70 70-80 80-90 90-100 Illness 3.61 3.77 3.85 3.91 3.77 3.84 3.71 3.72 3.63 3.50 Medical/dental appointments 0.42 0.40 0.43 0.43 0.41 0.44 0.43 0.42 0.41 0.43 Religious observance 0.20 0.08 0.09 0.05 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 Study Leave 0.07 0.07 0.15 0.18 0.20 0.18 0.22 0.21 0.26 0.31 Traveller absence 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 Agreed holiday 0.32 0.37 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.41 0.39 0.39 0.41 0.37 Agreed extended holiday 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 Excluded 0.19 0.23 0.20 0.17 0.18 0.16 0.15 0.16 0.14 0.13 Other authorised 0.71 0.76 0.65 0.57 0.56 0.52 0.54 0.51 0.51 0.51 Total authorised5 5.94 6.11 6.04 6.05 5.93 5.89 5.82 5.74 5.72 5.59 Holiday not agreed 0.11 0.11 0.12 0.11 0.10 0.09 0.09 0.09 0.08 0.09 Arrived late 0.06 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.07 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.06 0.08 Other unauthorised 1.39 1.35 1.21 1.01 0.86 0.72 0.80 0.72 0.67 0.63 No reason yet 0.44 0.48 0.36 0.33 0.31 0.31 0.28 0.29 0.20 0.28 Total unauthorised5 2.15 2.18 1.85 1.62 1.43 1.26 1.33 1.28 1.08 1.13 Total overall5 8.09 8.29 7.89 7.67 7.37 7.15 7.15 7.01 6.79 6.73 1 Pupils aged between 5 and 15 at the start of the academic year. Excludes boarders. 2 Percentage of possible sessions missed based on absence totals as reported by reason. 3 Includes middle schools as deemed. 4 Income Deprivation Affecting Children Indices. 5 Includes absence returned as either authorised or unauthorised totals but not broken down by reason. 6 Includes maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges and academies. Source: School Census (aggregate of 2007/08 Autumn, Spring and Summer terms)
It is widely recognised, as the data demonstrate, that absence rates increase in areas of high deprivation. Our aim is to reduce all forms of absence and through the National Strategies we are providing intensive support and challenge to those local authorities with high persistent absence, ensuring that all of the targeted schools in their authority are implementing agreed actions to reduce their absence rates.