The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has reported alarming statistics on school absenteeism among disadvantaged pupils.
- 37% of pupils on free school meals miss at least one day of school every fortnight, a rise from 23% pre-pandemic.
- Persistent absenteeism is amplifying the educational achievement gap between rich and poor students.
- Absenteeism rates have nearly doubled post-pandemic for both disadvantaged and wealthier students.
- Despite government efforts, the attainment gap remains largely unchanged over the past two decades.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has identified a troubling trend: 37% of pupils on free school meals are now missing at least one day of school every fortnight, up from 23% before the pandemic. This rise in absenteeism is particularly concerning as it disproportionately affects children from poorer families, exacerbating the existing educational achievement gap.
While English schoolchildren are generally performing well in reading and maths, the disparity between the richest and poorest students is stark. Imran Tahir, an IFS research economist, noted that this gap is as significant as the difference between the educational outcomes of students in England and Colombia. He emphasized the challenge for the next government in tackling these entrenched inequalities, made more difficult by the pandemic’s legacy.
The IFS further reported that the number of children missing more than half of their schooling has doubled since 2019, with poorer families being disproportionately affected. Although such extreme truancy remains rare, the general increase in absenteeism since Covid-19 is alarming educators and politicians alike. Department for Education figures show that absences have risen by nearly two-thirds among all pupils since 2019, with students now missing an average of 14 days of school a year, up from nine days previously.
The problem of absenteeism is not confined to disadvantaged pupils alone. The truancy rates among wealthier students have also doubled since the pandemic, with one in six now persistently absent. In light of these trends, Labour has proposed several initiatives to improve school attendance, including free breakfast clubs for primary schools, enhanced mental health support, and Ofsted reviews of attendance data.
The Government has also taken steps to address this issue, announcing a £15 million investment over three years to combat truancy. This funding is aimed at providing targeted support for 10,000 severely absent pupils and their families, as well as establishing 18 new ‘attendance hubs’ in England, bringing the total to 32. Despite these efforts, the IFS warned that promises to tackle educational inequalities have ‘consistently come to nought.’
The attainment gap between 16-year-olds receiving free school meals and their peers has remained largely unchanged over the past 20 years. Last year, only 43% of disadvantaged students achieved at least a grade 4 in English and maths, compared to 72% of students from better-off families. This gap highlights the persistent challenge in narrowing educational disparities.
Adding to the complexity of this issue, rates of special educational needs and mental health challenges among children are rising sharply. Twice as many young people now report a strong dislike for school compared to before the pandemic. This trend places additional strain on schools and teachers, necessitating comprehensive strategies from any incoming government to address these multifaceted challenges.
Josh Hillman of the Nuffield Foundation underscored the need for innovative and well-resourced policies to address educational inequalities. He stated, ‘Other government departments will also need to play a part to support the broader well-being of disadvantaged children and young people, essential for their educational development.’
Addressing the educational achievement gap requires a multifaceted approach that includes targeted support, mental health resources, and broader governmental involvement.
