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

Description

This document describes the data included in the ‘Pupil absence in schools in England: 2018/19’ National Statistics release’s underlying data files. This data is released under the terms of the Open Government License (https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) and is intended to meet at least 3 stars for Open Data (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2010-to-2015-government-policy-government-transparency-and-accountability/2010-to-2015-government-policy-government-transparency-and-accountability#appendix-3-releasing-data-in-open-and-anonymised-formats). The methodology (https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/methodology/pupil-absence-in-schools-in-england) 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
- state-funded special schools
- pupil referral units

It includes information on:

- reasons for absence
- persistent absentees
- pupil characteristics
- absence by term

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

File formats and conventions

Rounding

This dataset has not had suppression applied.

Conventions

The following convention is used throughout the underlying data.

‘:’ Not applicable.

Data files

01 - Absence rates by geographic level - Autumn and Spring combined

Filename: 1_absence_2term_main_rates.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2016/17 Autumn and spring term to 2020/21 Autumn and spring term
Content summary: Absence information for both Autumn and Spring term combined 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. Includes school level data.

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


01 (termly) - Absence rates by geographic level - Termly data

Filename: 1b_absence_2term_main_termly.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2012/13 Autumn term to 2020/21 Spring term
Content summary: Termly absence information for Autumn and Spring term 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.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                   |  Variable description
------------------------------  |  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
enrolments_pa_10_exact          |  Number of persistent absentees
enrolments_pa_10_exact_percent  |  Persistent absentee rate
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


02 - Enrolments with one or more session of absence, including by reason for absence - Autumn and Spring combined

Filename: 2_absence_2term_oneplussessions.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2016/17 Autumn and spring term to 2020/21 Autumn and spring term
Content summary: The number of enrolments with one or more session of absence, including by reason for absence. Includes school level data.

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


03 - Absence rates as a percentage of possible sessions by band - Autumn and Spring combined

Filename: 3_absence_2term_onepercent_bands.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2016/17 Autumn and spring term to 2020/21 Autumn and spring term
Content summary: The number of pupil enrolments by overall, authorised and unauthorised absence percentage point bands.

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


04 - Absence rates in pupil referral units (PRUs) - Autumn and Spring combined

Filename: 4_absence_2term_pru.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2013/14 Autumn and spring term to 2020/21 Autumn and spring term
Content summary: Absence rates for pupil referral units

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


05 - Absence rates for four year olds - Autumn and Spring combined

Filename: 5_absence_2term_4year_olds.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2016/17 Autumn and spring term to 2020/21 Autumn and spring term
Content summary: Overall absence for all enrolments in state-funded primary, secondary and special schools for pupils aged 4

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


06 - Absence rates by pupil characteristic - Autumn and Spring combined

Filename: 6_absence_2term_characteristics.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2016/17 Autumn and spring term to 2020/21 Autumn and spring term
Content summary: Absence information for Autumn and Spring term combined by pupil characteristics such as age, gender and ethnicity for England.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                          |  Variable description
-------------------------------------  |  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
characteristic                         |  Characteristic - Filter by 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 - Total includes primary, secondary and special
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_y_exceptional                     |  Number of sessions recorded as exceptional circumstances


06 (termly) - Absence rates by pupil characteristic - Termly data

Filename: 6b_absence_2term_characteristics_termly.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2020/21 Autumn term to 2020/21 Spring term
Content summary: Termly absence information by pupil characteristics such as age, gender and ethnicity for England.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                          |  Variable description
-------------------------------------  |  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
characteristic                         |  Characteristic - Filter by 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 - Total includes primary, secondary and special
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_y_exceptional                     |  Number of sessions recorded as exceptional circumstances
