Pupils: Absenteeism
2026-07-16 · Department for Education · HL2251 · Official question
Question
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of persistent absence from school on GCSE attainment in England.
Answer
Tackling absence is at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity. The pandemic had a significant impact on attendance across the country, with persistent absence rates roughly doubling. Attendance has been improving year ...