News and communications

Next phase of DfE’s world-leading attendance drive will provide new data for schools to help them spot trends in children’s attendance for earlier intervention.

• Updated: 10 May 2024

Attendance hubs to more than double to support 1,000 more schools and £15 million investment to expand the attendance mentor pilot programme.

• Updated: 8 January 2024

Government announces four new attendance hubs, widening the support to a total of 400,000 pupils.

• Updated: 28 September 2023

A letter from the Chief Medical Officer and leading health professionals to schools about mild illness, attendance, and information for parents and carers.

• Updated: 5 September 2023

Schools and multi-academy trusts (MATs) share their different techniques for improving attendance rates in their settings.

• Updated: 19 April 2023

Response to the consultation to improve the consistency of support available to families in England on school attendance.

• Updated: 6 May 2022

Young people who are most at risk of serious violence or gang exploitation will receive targeted support to keep them engaged in education and attending lessons

• Updated: 17 December 2021

Leading experts come together to supercharge efforts to improve school attendance

• Updated: 9 December 2021

Government attendance advisors to start work helping local areas and school trusts put new plans in place to increase attendance

• Updated: 26 November 2021

New report reveals every extra day missed from school can affect grades.

• Updated: 24 March 2016

New school attendance statistics show the number of persistent absentees is down by nearly 200,000 since 2010.

• Updated: 26 March 2015

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Figures for school attendance break records across the board.

• Updated: 15 October 2014

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Schools showing successful practice in improving the attainment and attendance of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) pupils.

• Updated: 2 September 2014

New figures show that persistent absence is down by almost a third.

• Updated: 25 March 2014

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The government’s expert adviser on behaviour has called for a crackdown on primary school absence.

• Updated: 16 April 2012

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Almost 400,000 persistently absent children missed at least a month of school, figures reveal today.

• Updated: 28 March 2012

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Information on absenteeism in schools.

• Updated: 19 October 2011

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Schools Minister Nick Gibb's statement on absence in schools.

• Updated: 24 August 2011

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Ex-service personnel will be fast-tracked into schools to help young people achieve.

• Updated: 28 February 2011

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Schools Minister Nick Gibb welcomes the overall decrease in school absence rates and announces the Government's commitment to tackling underlying causes of absenteeism.

• Updated: 19 October 2010

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government