Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many school children in England have had an unauthorised school absence in each of the past five years.

Schools are required to record in the register once in the morning session and once in the afternoon session whether or not a pupil is absent.

The attached table below shows the number of pupil enrolments in England with one or more sessions of unauthorised absence by academic year.

In the 2021/22 academic year, 366,042 pupil enrolments missed 10% or more of possible sessions due to unauthorised absence. This figure covers state-funded primary, state-funded secondary and special schools in England.

Unauthorised absence includes pupils who arrived late (after registration has closed), unauthorised holidays, reason for absence not yet provided, and other unauthorised absence.

The data used in this answer are published in the National Statistics release on pupil absence in schools in England, available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/pupil-absence-in-schools-in-england.