Pupils: Absenteeism
Commons · Question 27344 · Tabled 4 Sep 2026 · Department for Education · Official record
Answered 11 Sep 2026
Question
Asked by Iqbal Mohamed
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the evidential basis is for concluding that Fixed Penalty Notices for school attendance offences improve long-term pupil attendance.
Answer
Answered by Paul Waugh, 11 Sep 2026
The causes of school absence are complex and penalty notices are one part of a wider toolkit to help ensure children receive the education they are entitled to. The government remains committed to a support-first approach, with enforcement only used in ca...