Pupil absence in schools in England: autumn term
Autumn term 2020/21

Description

This document describes the data included in the ‘Pupil absence in schools in England: Autumn term 2020/21’ National Statistics release’s underlying data files. This data is released under the terms of the  Open Government License (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/) and is intended to meet at least 3 stars for  Open Data (https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/improving-the-transparency-and-accountability-of-government-and-its-services/supporting-pages/releasing-data-in-open-formats).

The  absence methodology document should be referenced alongside this data. It provides information on the data sources, their coverage and quality as well as explaining methodology used in producing the data.

Coverage

This release provides information on the levels of overall, authorised and unauthorised absence in:

- state-funded primary schools
- state-funded secondary schools
- special schools

It includes information on:

- reasons for absence
- persistent absentees
- separate absence information for pupil referral units (including alternative provision academies and free schools)

The information is based on pupil level absence data collected via the school census.

The underlying data files include national, regional and local authority absence information from autumn 2006 to autumn 2020 for England. School level absence data is included from autumn 2016 to autumn 2020. Termly absence data has been collected from special schools from autumn 2016 and appears in the underlying data from that point. Data from autumn 2006 to autumn 2015 cover primary and secondary schools only.

File formats and conventions

Rounding and Suppression

This dataset has not had suppression applied. Rates are presented to one decimal place in the report but are unrounded in the underlying data files

Conventions

The following convention is used throughout the underlying data.

‘:’  Not available.

‘z’  Not applicable

Data files

01 - Absence rates by geographic level

Filename: absence_1term_nat_reg_la_sch.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2006/07 Autumn term to 2020/21 Autumn term
Content summary: Absence information for all enrolments in state-funded primary, secondary and special schools including information on overall absence, persistent absence and reason for absence for pupils aged 5-15.

National, Regional and Local Authority data from 2006/07.

School data is included from 2016/17. Primary and secondary only before 2016/17.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                   |  Variable description
------------------------------  |  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
enrolments                      |  Number of pupil enrolments
enrolments_PA_10_exact          |  Number of persistent absentees
enrolments_pa_10_exact_percent  |  Percentage of persistent absentees
num_schools                     |  Number of schools
school_type                     |  School type - Filter by school type - Total includes primary, secondary and special
sess_auth_appointments          |  Number of medical appointments sessions
sess_auth_appointments_rate     |  Medical appointments rate
sess_auth_excluded              |  Number of excluded sessions
sess_auth_excluded_rate         |  Excluded rate
sess_auth_ext_holiday           |  Number of extended authorised holiday sessions
sess_auth_ext_holiday_rate      |  Extended authorised holiday rate
sess_auth_holiday               |  Number of authorised holiday sessions
sess_auth_holiday_rate          |  Authorised holiday rate
sess_auth_illness               |  Number of illness sessions
sess_auth_illness_rate          |  Illness rate
sess_auth_other                 |  Number of authorised other sessions
sess_auth_other_rate            |  Authorised other rate
sess_auth_religious             |  Number of religious observance sessions
sess_auth_religious_rate        |  Religious observance rate
sess_auth_study                 |  Number of study leave sessions
sess_auth_study_rate            |  Study leave rate
sess_auth_totalreasons          |  Number of authorised reasons sessions
sess_auth_totalreasons_rate     |  Authorised reasons rate
sess_auth_traveller             |  Number of traveller sessions
sess_auth_traveller_rate        |  Traveller rate
sess_authorised                 |  Number of authorised absence sessions
sess_authorised_percent         |  Authorised absence rate
sess_overall                    |  Number of overall absence sessions
sess_overall_percent            |  Overall absence rate
sess_overall_totalreasons       |  Number of overall reasons sessions
sess_overall_totalreasons_rate  |  Overall reasons rate
sess_possible                   |  Number of sessions possible
sess_unauth_holiday             |  Number of unauthorised holiday sessions
sess_unauth_holiday_rate        |  Unauthorised holiday rate
sess_unauth_late                |  Number of late sessions
sess_unauth_late_rate           |  Late rate
sess_unauth_noyet               |  Number of no reason yet sessions
sess_unauth_noyet_rate          |  No reason yet rate
sess_unauth_other               |  Number of unauthorised other sessions
sess_unauth_other_rate          |  Unauthorised other rate
sess_unauth_totalreasons        |  Number of unauthorised reasons sessions
sess_unauth_totalreasons_rate   |  Unauthorised reasons rate
sess_unauthorised               |  Number of unauthorised absence sessions
sess_unauthorised_percent       |  Unauthorised absence rate
sess_x_covid                    |  Number of sessions recorded as not attending due to COVID circumstances
sess_x_covid_rate               |  Rate of sessions recorded as not attending due to COVID circumstances
sess_y_exceptional              |  Number of sessions recorded as exceptional circumstances

Footnotes:

1. Total includes state-funded primary and secondary schools. Does not include special schools. Available from 2006/07 to present (data for special schools is available from 2016/17 onwards).
2. Total includes state-funded primary, secondary and special schools. Data for special schools is available from 2016/17 to present.
3. Sessions recorded as not attending due to COVID circumstances are included as possible sessions but not as an absence within absence rates.


02 - Absence in Pupil Referral Units

Filename: absence_1term_pru_.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2013/14 Autumn term to 2020/21 Autumn term
Content summary: Absence information for pupil referral units (including alternative provision academies and free schools). Data has been collected from 2013/14.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                   |  Variable description
------------------------------  |  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
enrolments                      |  Number of pupil enrolments
enrolments_PA_10_exact          |  Number of persistent absentees
enrolments_pa_10_exact_percent  |  Percentage of persistent absentees
num_schools                     |  Number of schools
sess_auth_appointments          |  Number of medical appointments sessions
sess_auth_excluded              |  Number of excluded sessions
sess_auth_ext_holiday           |  Number of extended authorised holiday sessions
sess_auth_holiday               |  Number of authorised holiday sessions
sess_auth_illness               |  Number of illness sessions
sess_auth_other                 |  Number of authorised other sessions
sess_auth_religious             |  Number of religious observance sessions
sess_auth_study                 |  Number of study leave sessions
sess_auth_totalreasons          |  Number of authorised reasons sessions
sess_auth_traveller             |  Number of traveller sessions
sess_authorised                 |  Number of authorised absence sessions
sess_authorised_percent         |  Authorised absence rate
sess_overall                    |  Number of overall absence sessions
sess_overall_percent            |  Overall absence rate
sess_overall_totalreasons       |  Number of overall reasons sessions
sess_possible                   |  Number of sessions possible
sess_unauth_holiday             |  Number of unauthorised holiday sessions
sess_unauth_late                |  Number of late sessions
sess_unauth_noyet               |  Number of no reason yet sessions
sess_unauth_other               |  Number of unauthorised other sessions
sess_unauth_totalreasons        |  Number of unauthorised reasons sessions
sess_unauthorised               |  Number of unauthorised absence sessions
sess_unauthorised_percent       |  Unauthorised absence rate
sess_x_covid                    |  Number of sessions recorded as not attending due to COVID circumstances
sess_y_exceptional              |  Number of sessions recorded as exceptional circumstances

Footnotes:

1. Sessions recorded as not attending due to COVID circumstances are included as possible sessions but not as an absence within absence rates.


03 - Enrolments with one or more sessions of absence

Filename: absence_1term_one_plus_sessions.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2006/07 Autumn term to 2020/21 Autumn term
Content summary: The number of enrolments with one or more session of absence, including by reason for absence. National, Regional and Local Authority data from 2006/07.

School data from 2016/17.

Primary and secondary only before 2016/17.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name            |  Variable description
-----------------------  |  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
enrol_auth_appointments  |  Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to medical or dental appointments
enrol_auth_excluded      |  Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to exclusion
enrol_auth_ext_holiday   |  Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to agreed extended family holiday
enrol_auth_holiday       |  Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to agreed family holiday
enrol_auth_illness       |  Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to illness
enrol_auth_other         |  Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to other authorised circumstances
enrol_auth_religious     |  Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to religious observance
enrol_auth_study         |  Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to study leave
enrol_auth_traveller     |  Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to traveller absence
enrol_authorised         |  Number of enrolments with at least one authorised absence session
enrol_overall            |  Number of enrolments with at least one overall absence session
enrol_unauth_holiday     |  Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to family holiday not agreed
enrol_unauth_late        |  Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to arriving late
enrol_unauth_noyet       |  Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to no reason yet
enrol_unauth_other       |  Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to other unauthorised circumstances
enrol_unauthorised       |  Number of enrolments with at least one unauthorised absence session
enrol_x_covid            |  Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to not attending due to COVID circumstances
enrol_y_exceptional      |  Number of enrolments with at least one absence session due to exceptional circumstances
enrolments               |  Number of pupil enrolments
num_schools              |  Number of schools
school_type              |  School type - Filter by school type

Footnotes:

1. Total includes state-funded primary and secondary schools. Does not include special schools. Available from 2006/07 to present (data for special schools is available from 2016/17 onwards).
2. Total includes state-funded primary, secondary and special schools. Data for special schools is available from 2016/17 to present.


04 - Absence for 4 year olds

Filename: absence_1term_4_year_olds2.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2012/13 Autumn term to 2020/21 Autumn term
Content summary: Overall absence for all enrolments in state-funded primary, secondary and special schools for pupils aged 4.

National, Regional and Local Authority data from 2012/13.

School data from 2016/17. Primary and secondary only before 2016/17. Collected from 2012/13.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name         |  Variable description
--------------------  |  -----------------------------------
enrolments            |  Number of pupil enrolments
num_schools           |  Number of schools
school_type           |  School type - Filter by school type
sess_overall          |  Number of overall absence sessions
sess_overall_percent  |  Overall absence rate
sess_possible         |  Number of sessions possible

Footnotes:

1. Total includes state-funded primary and secondary schools. Does not include special schools. Available from 2006/07 to present (data for special schools is available from 2016/17 onwards).
2. Total includes state-funded primary, secondary and special schools. Data for special schools is available from 2016/17 to present.
3. Sessions recorded as not attending due to COVID circumstances are included as possible sessions but not as an absence within absence rates.


05 - Absence as a percentage of possible sessions by percent bands

Filename: absence_1term_one_percent_bandsx.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2006/07 Autumn term to 2020/21 Autumn term
Content summary: The number of pupil enrolments by their absence in the term as a percentage of possible sessions. Covers overall absence, authorised absence and unauthorised absence.

Data by one percent bands.

Primary and secondary only before 2016/17.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                    |  Variable description
-------------------------------  |  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
enrolments_authorised            |  Number of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for authorised absence
enrolments_authorised_percent    |  Percentage of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for authorised absence
enrolments_overall               |  Number of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for overall absence
enrolments_overall_percent       |  Percentage of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for overall absence
enrolments_sess_x_covid          |  Number of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for non-attendance due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
enrolments_sess_x_covid_percent  |  Percentage of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for non-attendance due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
enrolments_unauthorised          |  Number of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for unauthorised absence
enrolments_unauthorised_percent  |  Percentage of all pupil enrolments that fall into that per cent band for unauthorised absence
percent_bands                    |  Absence percentage band - Filter by percentage of absence
school_type                      |  School type - Filter by school type

Footnotes:

1. Total includes state-funded primary and secondary schools. Does not include special schools. Available from 2006/07 to present (data for special schools is available from 2016/17 onwards).
2. Total includes state-funded primary, secondary and special schools. Data for special schools is available from 2016/17 to present.


06 - Absence by pupil characteristics - national

Filename: absence_1term_national_characteristics2.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2019/20 Autumn term to 2020/21 Autumn term
Content summary: Absence information by pupil characteristics including age, gender, year group, free school meals, special educational needs, language and ethnicity for England.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                          |  Variable description
-------------------------------------  |  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
characteristic                         |  Characteristic - Filter by pupil characteristic
enrolments                             |  Number of pupil enrolments
enrolments_pa_10_exact                 |  Number of persistent absentees
enrolments_pa_10_exact_percent         |  Percentage of persistent absentees
school_type                            |  School type - Filter by school type
sess_auth_appointments                 |  Number of medical appointments sessions
sess_auth_excluded                     |  Number of excluded sessions
sess_auth_ext_holiday                  |  Number of extended authorised holiday sessions
sess_auth_holiday                      |  Number of authorised holiday sessions
sess_auth_illness                      |  Number of illness sessions
sess_auth_other                        |  Number of authorised other sessions
sess_auth_religious                    |  Number of religious observance sessions
sess_auth_study                        |  Number of study leave sessions
sess_auth_totalreasons                 |  Number of authorised reasons sessions
sess_auth_traveller                    |  Number of traveller sessions
sess_authorised                        |  Number of authorised absence sessions
sess_authorised_pa_10_exact            |  Number of authorised absence sessions for persistent absentees
sess_authorised_percent                |  Authorised absence rate
sess_authorised_percent_pa_10_exact    |  Authorised absence rate exact
sess_overall                           |  Number of overall absence sessions
sess_overall_pa_10_exact               |  Number of overall absence sessions for persistent absentees
sess_overall_percent                   |  Overall absence rate
sess_overall_percent_pa_10_exact       |  Overall absence rate exact
sess_overall_totalreasons              |  Number of overall reasons sessions
sess_possible                          |  Number of sessions possible
sess_possible_pa_10_exact              |  Number of sessions possible for persistent absentees
sess_unauth_holiday                    |  Number of unauthorised holiday sessions
sess_unauth_late                       |  Number of late sessions
sess_unauth_noyet                      |  Number of no reason yet sessions
sess_unauth_other                      |  Number of unauthorised other sessions
sess_unauth_totalreasons               |  Number of unauthorised reasons sessions
sess_unauthorised                      |  Number of unauthorised absence sessions
sess_unauthorised_pa_10_exact          |  Number of unauthorised absence sessions for persistent absentees
sess_unauthorised_percent              |  Unauthorised absence rate
sess_unauthorised_percent_pa_10_exact  |  Unauthorised absence rate exact
sess_x_covid                           |  Number of sessions recorded as not attending due to COVID circumstances
sess_x_covid_rate                      |  Rate of sessions recorded as not attending due to COVID circumstances
sess_y_exceptional                     |  Number of sessions recorded as exceptional circumstances


07 - Absence by pupil characteristics - local authority

Filename: absence_1term_la_characteristics2.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority
Time period: 2019/20 Autumn term to 2020/21 Autumn term
Content summary: Absence information by pupil characteristics including age, gender, year group, free school meals, special educational needs, language and ethnicity by local authority

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                          |  Variable description
-------------------------------------  |  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
characteristic                         |  Characteristic - Filter by pupil characteristic
enrolments                             |  Number of pupil enrolments
enrolments_PA_10_exact                 |  Number of persistent absentees
enrolments_pa_10_exact_percent         |  Percentage of persistent absentees
school_type                            |  School type - Filter by school type
sess_authorised                        |  Number of authorised absence sessions
sess_authorised_appointments           |  Number of medical appointments sessions
sess_authorised_excluded               |  Number of excluded sessions
sess_authorised_ext_holiday            |  Number of extended authorised holiday sessions
sess_authorised_holiday                |  Number of authorised holiday sessions
sess_authorised_illness                |  Number of illness sessions
sess_authorised_other                  |  Number of authorised other sessions
sess_authorised_pa_10_exact            |  Number of authorised absence sessions for persistent absentees
sess_authorised_percent                |  Authorised absence rate
sess_authorised_percent_pa_10_exact    |  Authorised absence rate exact
sess_authorised_religious              |  Number of religious observance sessions
sess_authorised_study                  |  Number of study leave sessions
sess_authorised_totalreasons           |  Number of authorised reasons sessions
sess_authorised_traveller              |  Number of traveller sessions
sess_overall                           |  Number of overall absence sessions
sess_overall_pa_10_exact               |  Number of overall absence sessions for persistent absentees
sess_overall_percent                   |  Overall absence rate
sess_overall_percent_pa_10_exact       |  Overall absence rate exact
sess_overall_totalreasons              |  Number of overall reasons sessions
sess_possible                          |  Number of sessions possible
sess_possible_pa_10_exact              |  Number of sessions possible for persistent absentees
sess_unauthorised                      |  Number of unauthorised absence sessions
sess_unauthorised_holiday              |  Number of unauthorised holiday sessions
sess_unauthorised_late                 |  Number of late sessions
sess_unauthorised_noyet                |  Number of no reason yet sessions
sess_unauthorised_other                |  Number of unauthorised other sessions
sess_unauthorised_pa_10_exact          |  Number of unauthorised absence sessions for persistent absentees
sess_unauthorised_percent              |  Unauthorised absence rate
sess_unauthorised_percent_pa_10_exact  |  Unauthorised absence rate exact
sess_unauthorised_totalreasons         |  Number of unauthorised reasons sessions
sess_x_covid                           |  Number of sessions recorded as not attending due to COVID circumstances
sess_x_covid_rate                      |  Rate of sessions recorded as not attending due to COVID circumstances
sess_y_exceptional                     |  Number of sessions recorded as exceptional circumstances
