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DfE Data
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DfE Attendance Week 43 – 20/10/25

Weekly Attendance Summary – Week Commencing 20 October 2025

School attendance across England: 92.64%, with an overall absence rate of 7.36%.

  • Authorised absences: 4.78%.
  • Unauthorised absences: 2.59%.

By school type:

  • Primary: Absence rate 6.10% (Authorised: 4.14%, Unauthorised: 1.96%)
  • Secondary: Absence rate 8.66% (Authorised: 5.34%, Unauthorised: 3.32%)
  • Special schools: Absence rate 13.16% (Authorised: 9.38%, Unauthorised: 3.78%)

Comparison to the same week last year:

  • Absence this week was 0.32 percentage points higher compared with the equivalent week in the previous academic year.
  • The increase was driven by authorised absence (up 0.29 percentage point) and a smaller rise in unauthorised absence (up 0.04 percentage point).

For the academic year to date (08 September 2025 to 24 October 2025):

  • Overall absence: 5.90% → Attendance: 94.10%.
  • By school type:
    • Primary: Absence 4.56% (Authorised 3.18%, Unauthorised 1.38%)
    • Secondary: Absence 7.17% (Authorised 4.55%, Unauthorised 2.62%)
    • Special schools: Absence 12.01% (Authorised 8.71%, Unauthorised 3.31%)

Attendance this week has slipped compared to earlier weeks, with the overall absence rate up to 7.36% — higher than the ~6% range seen in some earlier weeks this term.

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Attendance Matters is a collaborative space for education professionals exploring school attendance. Run by a group of experienced educators, governors, and parents, it connects research, policy, and real experiences to promote fair and inclusive practice. Sponsored by Attend, all editorial content is created independently.

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