According to the DfE’s annual report, in the 2023/24 academic year, over 1.5 million pupils in England were persistently absent from school, equating to more than one in five children missing at least 10% of their education, and that figure is only rising.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth: attendance in schools isn’t the problem. It’s a symptom. A symptom of something bigger, something deeper, that’s often missed if we only focus on penalising parents and getting school procedures right.
Whether you’re working in a primary school or a secondary setting, improving school attendance requires a shift in approach. Instead of asking, “Why aren’t they here?” we need to ask, “What’s the reason they aren’t coming in?”
Maria Thomas, Juniper’s Training and Education Advisor, knows all too well the challenges surrounding attendance in schools right now. Maria runs regular training sessions on attendance, which is just one of the many courses she delivers, and she frequently speaks with schools about this growing concern.
Drawing on her extensive experience in education and her conversations with schools, Maria has written this blog to explore the real reasons behind school attendance issues and offer practical steps to help tackle the root causes.
When it comes to school attendance, there are clear thresholds and procedures all schools must follow. For example, a pupil is classed as persistently absent if they miss 10% or more of their possible sessions, and severely absent at 50%. These figures help schools identify which pupils may need additional support, but it all starts with accurate recording.
That’s where school attendance codes come in.
Every time a pupil is absent, the correct attendance code must be entered into the school’s MIS to record where that child is, or why they’re not in school. These codes aren’t just admin; they’re part of the statutory process that helps schools monitor trends, meet DfE expectations, and most importantly, spot pupils who may be at risk.
Whether it’s illness, authorised leave, medical appointments, or unexplained absence, using the correct attendance code for schools ensures the data tells the right story and helps trigger appropriate action at the right time.
Here's how it breaks down over time:
|
Attendance % |
Absence Level |
Meaning |
|
100% |
Perfect attendance |
No sessions missed |
|
95–99% |
Low-level absence |
Occasional days off |
|
90% or below |
Persistent absence (PA) |
Missed 1 day every 2 weeks (approx. 19 days a year) |
|
50% or below |
Severe absence (SA) |
Missed half of all sessions – extremely high concern (approx. 95+ days/year) |
Each school day is usually split into two sessions (morning and afternoon), so 10% absence = 19 sessions missed per term, or 38 sessions (around 19 full days) across the academic year.
Now that we’ve discussed how school attendance works in practice, let’s explore the underlying reasons why some pupils aren’t attending school regularly.
Low attendance in primary schools and beyond is rarely about laziness or defiance. In many cases, it’s about:
Issuing automatic letters or fines often does little to address these root causes. In fact, it can widen the gap between school and family. To improve attendance, schools need to adopt a more relational and responsive approach.
Don’t wait for persistent absence thresholds to kick in. Even small changes in attendance can be a sign that something’s not quite right, and should be a reason to check in, not a cause for concern or blame. It’s not about pointing fingers; it’s about showing you care.
Try opening up the conversation gently with questions like:
These kinds of check-ins often uncover early signs of anxiety, bullying, learning difficulties, medical issues, or even safeguarding concerns, before they escalate further.
2. Connect the dots using school attendance data
Attendance codes for schools are just the start. Use your MIS system or pupil progress tracker to build a bigger picture:
Overlaying attendance, pastoral, and academic data helps spot problems early and tailor support effectively.
3. Create an inclusive culture where every child feels they belong
Children are more likely to attend regularly when school feels welcoming and inclusive. Consider how your school promotes:
For pupils to thrive, school must feel like a place they want to be, not somewhere they’re forced to go.
Parents may not have all the answers, but they often have important context. By working with families instead of placing blame and pointing fingers, you open the door to more honest conversations.
Use tools like the DfE's Working Together to Improve Attendance guidance to build shared plans that provide holistic support. Recognise external challenges like unstable housing, financial hardship, or parental mental health that might be contributing to low attendance.
In some cases, absence can indicate serious safeguarding concerns - educational neglect, abuse, or exploitation. Attendance data in schools plays a vital role in early identification.
But even when escalation is necessary, trust matters. Strong relationships with families and children are key to effective intervention.
Improving attendance isn’t about tougher policies or harsher consequences to improve school data. It’s about building a school environment where every child feels safe, supported, and seen.
By shifting the conversation from compliance to care, schools can create long-term, meaningful change, reducing absence by meeting pupils where they are and addressing the why behind it.
So, before you mark another attendance code in schools or send another warning letter, ask yourself:
Why are they really absent?
While understanding the why behind pupil absence is essential, the day-to-day admin around attendance in schools is just as important - and required. Managing absences, applying the correct school attendance codes, and updating your MIS accurately can be time-consuming, especially when you're juggling unfamiliar codes or new scenarios.
That’s why we’ve created a free attendance and absence codes list to make things just a little easier.
Whether you're new to an attendance role or a seasoned pro, this quick-reference guide is designed to save you time and reduce errors. You can download it, print it, and keep it handy in the office for when you need it most.
It might not change your world, but if it saves you 15 minutes a day, that’s time well saved - because in education, every minute matters.
Download your free attendance and absence codes list for schools – and take the guesswork out of absence recording.