Pupils in England missed 11.5 million school days

Pupils in the UK missed 11.5 million days of school last year, according to a recent study. The number of students absent from classrooms has significantly increased. This ongoing crisis is linked to rising truancy and a growing number of children excluded from school. The study by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) highlights a 10 percent rise in missed school days from the autumn terms of 2022/23 to 2023/24. Additionally, the rate of school exclusions has jumped by more than one-third over the past year. Many families are also choosing to home-school their children, increasing by over 20 percent during the same period. Concerns have been raised about schools encouraging parents to keep struggling students at home, a practice known as "off-rolling." This can improve a school's performance metrics but can harm students' education. Efua Poku-Amanfo from IPPR stated that many children are now unaccounted for, creating a risk of failing those who need education the most. Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, noted that lost learning is particularly affecting children living in poverty. The report calls for new legislation to track when a child leaves school to ensure they are receiving an adequate education. In response, the Department for Education has introduced the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. This new legislation will establish a “Children Not in School” register in every local authority in England. The goal is to help local authorities identify and support children not enrolled in school.