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Absence rates in schools during the autumn term have increased, new data shows.

The absence rate in schools during the 2025-26 autumn term was 6.47 per cent, up from 6.38 per cent during same period in the previous year, but down from 6.7 per cent in 2023-24, according to published today.

In the autumn of 2019, before the Covid pandemic, the overall absence rate was 4.9 per cent.

The proportion of pupils who were persistently absent in the autumn term of 2025-26 - meaning they missed at least 10 per cent of their possible sessions - was 18.1 per cent, equal to 1.29 million pupils. During the same period in 2024-25, 1.28 million pupils were persistently absent - a rate of 17.79 per cent.

Some 2.12 per cent of pupils were severe absentees - missing at least half of their academic sessions - during autumn 2025-26. In the same period in 2024-25, the figure was 2.04 per cent. The number of severe absentees increased from 148,000 to 151,000.

Pupil absence rates increase

Overall absence rates increased across all school sectors, from 5.07 per cent to 5.12 per cent in primaries and 7.66 per cent to 7.75 per cent in secondaries.

The overall absence rate in special schools was 12.73 per cent last autumn, up from 12.55 per cent the previous year.

Persistent absence increased in primaries from 14.29 per cent to 14.39 per cent. In secondary schools, some 21.53 per cent of students missed at least 10 per cent of their academic sessions, up from 21.09 per cent the previous autumn.

Some 35.09 per cent of pupils in special schools were persistently absent, up from 34.9 per cent the previous autumn.

Severe absence rates increased in primary (from 0.89 per cent to 1.02 per cent) and special schools (6.32 per cent to 6.55 per cent) but decreased in secondaries (3.19 per cent to 3.16 per cent).

The rates of overall, persistent and severe absence for pupils eligible for free school meals all increased last autumn. These pupils’ rate of overall absence continued to be almost twice that of their peers.

The persistent absence rate for pupils not eligible for FSM was 12.57 per cent during the first term of the year, compared with 30.46 among those eligible for FSM.

Autumn absence rates also increased for pupils in receipt of an education, health and care plan (EHCP) and receiving special educational needs and disabilities support.

The absence rate for pupils with EHCPs increased from 12.52 per cent to 12.87 per cent. For pupils receiving SEND support, the autumn absence rate was 9.25 per cent, up slightly from 9.24 per cent.

For pupils with no identified SEND, the absence rate remained stable at 5.39 per cent; it was 5.41 per cent the previous autumn.

A problem ‘with roots beyond the classroom’

Fortnightly year-on-year was also released today, showing a 0.06 percentage point increase in overall absence, to 6.93 per cent.

In response, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, said these figures, “while broadly maintaining the progress made last year, were clearly impacted by pupil absence during the June heatwave and higher levels of illness”.

He added that the government must do “far more to ensure school buildings remain comfortable in the kind of extreme temperatures which are becoming increasingly common”.

Mr Whiteman said: “Welcome initiatives, including free breakfast clubs, a register of children not in school and attendance mentors in some areas, could all help make a difference with time, but these statistics show just how hard it is to drive absence rates back down to pre-pandemic levels.”

He also said that absence “often has roots beyond the classroom, from illness and mental health challenges to poverty and unmet special educational needs, highlighting the need for the government to ensure its much-needed SEND reforms are workable”.

Today’s figures come after annual statistics for the 2024-25 academic year revealed the overall absence rate reduced to 6.78 per cent, while severe absence reached a record high at 2.39 per cent.

Research findings from Katie Benyon at recently suggested that 2025-26 would be the first year since the pandemic that schools would see “no meaningful reduction” in pupil absence.

Statistics on absence for the full academic year are due to be published in March.

Attendance targets

Meanwhile, the government has confirmed that all mainstream schools will be given individual attendance targets, effective from September.

Last November, former education secretary Bridget Phillipson announced that from that month “every school will be issued with ” and that the attendance baseline improvement expectation (ABIE) would be “based on schools’ circumstances - including location, pupil needs and deprivation”.

In February, ����Vlog revealed that more than one in four schools were yet to receive AI-generated attendance targets. A spokesperson for the DfE said that “some schools may not have received one” but most should have.

The government has now confirmed that all schools will be set targets in September, and that they will be monitored by the DfE.

Education minister Paul Waugh said: “Each target will respect local challenges while making clear that every school has a role to play in helping improve attendance over time. We will back schools with better tools and better support.”

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