Collection

Statistics: pupil absence

Statistics on overall authorised and unauthorised pupil absences by school type, including persistent absentees and pupil characteristics.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 15 October 2013
• Last updated: 21 October 2021 — See all updates

Statistics from May 2010 onwards are available on GOV.UK. You can find our archived statistics on the National Archives. Note: the search function is not available on archived content so please use the filters on the left of each page.

The ‘Pupil absence in England: spring term’ statistical first release, previously published in August, has been discontinued. User feedback identified this as the least useful of the 4 pupil absence releases each year: it is followed in October by a far more comprehensive release of combined autumn/spring absence data. The 3 remaining releases are unaffected - specifically, the autumn term release, the combined autumn/spring term release and the full year release.

Statistics guidance

• Pupil absence statistics: guide
  • 21 March 2019
  • Guidance

Autumn-term release

• Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn term 2020
  • 1 July 2021
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn term 2019
  • 28 May 2020
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn term 2018
  • 30 May 2019
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn term 2017
  • 17 May 2018
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn term 2016
  • 18 May 2017
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn term 2015
  • 19 May 2016
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn term 2014
  • 21 May 2015
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn term 2013
  • 30 May 2014
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn term 2012
  • 23 May 2013
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn term 2011
  • 14 June 2012
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn term 2010
  • 25 May 2011
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn term 2009
  • 26 May 2010
  • National Statistics

Combined autumn- and spring-term release

• Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn 2020 and spring 2021
  • 21 October 2021
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn 2018 and spring 2019
  • 10 October 2019
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn 2017 and spring 2018
  • 18 October 2018
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn 2016 and spring 2017
  • 19 October 2017
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn 2015 and spring 2016
  • 20 October 2016
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn 2014 and spring 2015
  • 20 October 2015
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn 2013 and spring 2014
  • 20 October 2015
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn 2012 and spring 2013
  • 15 October 2013
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn 2011 and spring 2012
  • 17 October 2012
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn 2010 and spring 2011
  • 19 October 2011
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn 2009 and spring 2010
  • 19 October 2010
  • National Statistics

Full-year release

• Pupil absence in schools in England: 2018 to 2019
  • 26 March 2020
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: 2017 to 2018
  • 21 March 2019
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: 2016 to 2017
  • 20 June 2018
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: 2015 to 2016
  • 19 April 2017
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: 2014 to 2015
  • 24 March 2016
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: 2013 to 2014
  • 19 May 2015
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: 2012 to 2013
  • 25 March 2014
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: 2011 to 2012
  • 23 May 2013
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: 2010 to 2011
  • 28 March 2012
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: 2009 to 2010
  • 29 March 2011
  • National Statistics

Spring-term release

This release has been discontinued following user feedback.

• Pupil absence in schools in England: spring term 2012
  • 30 August 2012
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: spring term 2011
  • 24 August 2011
  • National Statistics
• Pupil absence in schools in England: spring term 2010
  • 25 August 2010
  • National Statistics

Published 15 October 2013
Last updated 21 October 2021 + show all updates

1. 21 October 2021

   Added 'Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn 2020 and spring 2021'.

2. 27 May 2021

   Added 'Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn term 2020' to the 'Autumn-term release' section.

3. 1 June 2020

   Added 'Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn term 2019'.

4. 26 March 2020

   Added 'Pupil absence in schools in England: 2018 to 2019' to the collection.

5. 10 October 2019

   Added Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn 2018 and spring 2018.

6. 30 May 2019

   Added 'Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn term 2018'.

7. 21 March 2019

   Added 'Pupil absence in schools in England: 2017 to 2018'.

8. 18 October 2018

   Added 'Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn term 2017 and spring term 2018'

9. 17 May 2018

   Added 'Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn term 2017'.

10. 22 March 2018

    Added 'Pupil absence in schools in England: 2016 to 2017' statistical release.

11. 19 October 2017

    Added 'Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn 2016 and spring 2017'.

12. 18 May 2017

    Added 'Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn term 2016'.

13. 23 March 2017

    Added 'Pupil absence in schools in England: 2015 to 2016'.

14. 20 October 2016

    Added: 'Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn 2015 and spring 2016'.

15. 19 May 2016

    Added 'Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn term 2015'.

16. 23 March 2016

    Added 'Pupil absence in schools in England: 2014 to 2015' to 'Full-year release' section.

17. 20 October 2015

    Added 'Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn 2014 and spring 2015'.

18. 21 May 2015

    Added 'Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn term 2014'.

19. 19 May 2015

    Added 'Absence statistics guide'.

20. 26 March 2015

    Added 'Pupil absence in schools in England: 2013 to 2014' to the collection.

21. 15 October 2014

    Added 'Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn 2013 and spring 2014' to the collection.

22. 25 March 2014

    Added statistics for 'Pupil absence in schools in England: 2012 to 2013'.

23. 15 October 2013

    First published.