https://dfemedia.blog.gov.uk/2020/12/08/attendance-rising-in-schools-all-over-the-country/

Attendance in schools is rising – with 86% of pupils in school last week compared to 83% the previous week, according to the latest stats from the Department.

Across the country 99.5% of state-funded schools are open. Attendance in primary schools stands at 90%, up from 88% the week before, while secondary school attendance is 81%, up from 78%.

The statistics are based on a survey of 17,500 state funded schools. The data also shows:

• 0.2% of children were off with a confirmed case of coronavirus
• 0.3% of pupils were off school with a suspected case of coronavirus
• Between 6.4% and 7% of pupils are self-isolating due to a potential contact with a confirmed case – down from between 7.6% and 8.4% last week

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

From the point children returned to classrooms in September, it has been and remains a national priority to keep schools and colleges open full-time, and the Chief Medical Officer has highlighted the damage caused by not being in education to children’s learning, development and mental health.

So it is encouraging to see that, following national restrictions, attendance has increased again this week, while overall prevalence is falling among both children and adults.

Schools, colleges and early years settings across the country have gone above and beyond to remain open, implementing safety measures and scaling up remote education provision for those children who are self-isolating, with approximately 99% of schools open each week since the start of term.

Tags:attendance, data, school attendance