Absence Rate
DfE Absence Statistics
Percentage of sessions missed by pupils
Understanding Absence Rate
The absence rate shows the overall percentage of school sessions missed by students. This includes both authorised absences (illness, medical appointments, religious observance) and unauthorised absences (truancy, term-time holidays).
How It’s Measured
Schools record attendance twice daily — morning and afternoon sessions. The absence rate is calculated as:
Absence Rate = (Sessions Missed ÷ Total Possible Sessions) × 100
This is the inverse of attendance rate: if attendance is 95%, absence is 5%.
What the Numbers Mean
- Below 4%: Excellent attendance, strong engagement
- 4-5%: Good, around national average
- 5-7%: Above average absence
- Above 7%: High absence rate, significant concerns
Types of Absence
Authorised: Approved by the school (illness, medical appointments, religious observance, exceptional circumstances)
Unauthorised: Not approved (truancy, term-time holidays, unexplained absence)
Schools with high unauthorised absence may have engagement or behaviour issues. High authorised absence might indicate health challenges or vulnerable populations.
Why Attendance Matters
Every day of absence impacts learning:
- Students miss key teaching and explanations
- Gaps in knowledge accumulate
- Social connections suffer
- Catching up becomes harder
Research shows attendance is one of the strongest predictors of academic success. When comparing schools, lower absence rates generally indicate better engagement and support.
Technical Details
- Column Name
- absence_rate
- Data Source
- DfE Absence Statistics
Coverage by School Phase
How many schools have data available for this field.
This field does not contribute to the performance score calculation.
Distribution by School Phase
Statistical distribution of values across schools.
Related Fields
Fields that correlate with Absence Rate. Click to explore.