Primary truancy on the rise

Truancy in English primary schools has increased for the fourth year running.
Authorised absences - when the child is away, but the school accepts the reason - are much more common than unauthorised absences, but these have also slightly increased after falling steadily for the past ten years.
In 2007-08 the overall absence rate was 5.26% in primary schools compared to 5.18 the previous year. The average was about eight school days per year per child.
The most common reason for absence was illness, followed by family holidays.
Pupil absence in schools in England

Pupil absence down but truancy up

Truancy in English primary schools is at its highest rate for ten years.

Latest figures show that for every 100 school days, just over half a day is missed due to unauthorised absence. In secondary schools, twice as many days are lost to truancy.

Each primary school pupil misses an average of eight school days per year. The most common reason is illness, followed by family holidays. Overall, attendance at primary and secondary schools has improved as the number of authorised absences has fallen to its lowest level for ten years.

Children who are absent for a fifth of the time, or more, are classed as Persistent Absentees (PA). In primary schools , one in fifty pupils is a PA and they account for more than a quarter of unauthorised absence.

Pupil Absence in Schools in England