School absences surge by a quarter in Cambridgeshire

Department for Education figures reviewed by Newsquest revealed more than 308,000 unauthorised absences across the autumn and spring terms of 2022-23 in state-funded Cambridgeshire schools.

This represents a significant increase of 24 per cent from across the same period in 2021-22 (245,908) and comes amid a surge in national numbers following the coronavirus pandemic of 2020.

A Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson said: “We continue to work with our schools to raise awareness of expectations around improving school attendance for young people.  

"There is no single reason why unauthorised absence rates have increased, but contributory factors include a child being late after register closes and term time holidays. The effects of Covid and parental disengagement are other factors.

They added: "There are many consequences to a child not attending school regularly.  Evidence shows that students with higher levels of consistent long-term attendance perform better at GCSE and A level, as well as being better placed socially and emotionally."

Last week, the Department for Education (DfE) announced increased fines for parents who take their children out of school in a bid to address soaring absences.

Currently set at £60, rising to £120 if they are not paid within 21 days, fines for unauthorised absences will now start at £80, rising to £160.

Under the new rules the DfE said that fines “must be considered if a child misses five days of school for unauthorised absence”, with wide variation between local councils over whether they levy fines.

The latest government figures have shown that of the nearly 400,000 penalty notices issued in England in 2022-23 for unauthorised absences, nine in 10 were for holidays booked during term times.

Parents have described the increase in fines as “unfair”, citing the surge in holiday prices when schools break up.

A study published by travel money provider FairFX in 2017 suggested package holidays can double when schools are out.             

Schools minister Damian Hinds has said there has to be a deterrent for taking children out of school unnecessarily during term time. (Image: Richard Townsend/PA Media)                                                    

One parent who chose to remain anonymous told Newsquest: “We signed a contract with the school and like all rules that are broken, we understand there are consequences. But penalising good students for having a holiday has the reverse effects the government is hoping it has.

“It doesn’t encourage better attendance it makes parents care less about the school as a whole. The introduction of increased fines will only create ill-feeling and push more parents to home educate their children."

Another parent added: "If businesses didn't charge extortionate prices in holiday times, families would be able to afford to go on holiday in the half terms. Maybe the government should be looking at that instead of fining families that are possibly already struggling."

Data revealed the most significant increase was in secondary school absences with 188,520 pupils missing school in the autumn and spring of 2022-23 as opposed to 142,679 missing school during the autumn and spring of 2021-22.

Primary school absences from across the same period rose from 94,152 to 109,499, a spike of more than 16 per cent, while the totals in Cambridgeshire’s state-funded special schools increased from 9,077 to 10,177.

Schools in Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Peterborough, and Suffolk all witnessed significant increases in absences among pupils.

In Peterborough, there were more than 177,000 unauthorised absences across the autumn and spring terms of 2022-23 in state-funded schools.

This represents a significant increase of 22 per cent from across the same period in 2021-22 when 145,182 students missed school.

In Norfolk and Suffolk, unauthorised absences increased by more than 20 per cent between 2020-23. 

Peterborough City Council has been approached for comment.