School Attendance Crisis Deepens Post-Pandemic

School attendance in England continues to struggle, with the overall absence rate at 6.93% for the 2025-26 academic year. This figure represents a rise from the previous year and remains considerably higher than the 4.7% recorded in 2018-19, before the pandemic. Persistent absence rates have doubled since Covid-19 closures, meaning nearly one in five pupils now miss at least 10% of school days.

Parents are increasingly being summoned to court for failing to ensure regular school attendance. In Margate, several parents appeared in court, facing fines for term-time holidays or more serious non-attendance. While reasons vary, from family bereavement to essential dental treatment abroad, the courts emphasize the duty to attend school.

A record 492,825 penalty notices were issued for unauthorised absences in 2024-25, a sharp increase from pre-pandemic figures. Unauthorised holidays account for over 90% of these penalties. The new education minister acknowledges the slow progress in returning attendance to pre-pandemic levels.

More serious cases, like a 14-year-old with only 19% attendance due to severe bullying, are also being heard. This highlights complex barriers to education, including special educational needs and mental health struggles. Despite these challenges, efforts are being made to transition students to specialist settings.

Campaigners note that prosecutions often target mothers and impact tight family budgets. However, the Department for Education maintains that these measures are a last resort, crucial for preventing young people from becoming not in education, employment, or training (Neet).