A child is persistent absent if they miss 10% or more of all possible school sessions regardless of whether the absence is authorised or unauthorised.
Children persistently absent play catch-up with work, miss time and opportunity with friends, and miss out on clubs and extra-curricular activities (areas to apply learning).
| 100% | 0 days missed |
| 99% | 1 day missed |
| 98% | 3 days missed |
| 97% | 1 week missed |
| 96% | 1 and a half weeks missed |
| 94% | 2 weeks missed |
| 93% | 2 and half weeks missed |
| 92% | 3 weeks missed |
| 90% | 4 weeks missed |
| 85% | 4 and a half weeks missed |
| 82% | Half a term missed |
| 78% | 7 weeks missed |
Impact on educational attainment
Department for Education found overall absence negatively effects attainment at the end of Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 4 – every extra day missed is associated with a lower attainment outcome.
- Pupils with at least 95% attendance achieve 5 or more GCSEs at grades A*- C
- Only 10% of persistent absentees achieve 5 A* – C GCSEs compared to 58% of regular attenders
- 21% of persistent absentees had no qualifications compared to only 3% of regular attenders
Link between absence and attainment at Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 4
Importance of regular attendance
Regular attendance enables children to fulfil their educational potential. It also lays foundations for future learning, commitment to hobbies, training and employment.
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