The government, led by Andy Burnham, has confirmed that every mainstream state school in England will receive its own individual target to improve pupil attendance starting from September. This move comes as persistent absence rates have doubled since the Covid pandemic, with the latest figures showing a worrying trend that officials are determined to reverse.
Under the new measures, schools will also be encouraged to offer more clubs and activities on Fridays, a day that has emerged as a particular weak spot for attendance. The initiative aims to boost end-of-week attendance, which has been declining more sharply than other days.
Persistent Absence: The Scale of the Problem
A pupil is classified as persistently absent if they miss at least 10 per cent of school sessions. In the 2018/19 academic year, the persistent absence rate for England's state schools stood at around 10 per cent. However, the most recent data for 2025/26 shows that figure has nearly doubled to 19 per cent.
Across a typical 190-day school year, missing 10 per cent equates to approximately 19 days, or almost four full school weeks. Schools that see children missing this amount of time could face strict punishments under the Labour government's new policies.
Government Response: Broader, Smarter, More Ambitious
Education minister Paul Waugh said the latest attendance statistics showed that "progress has slowed over the past year" and that the government's response needed to be "broader, smarter and more ambitious". He emphasised that the new targets are designed to be tailored to each school's unique circumstances, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Waugh also announced that schools will have access to more sophisticated data tools in the coming year. These tools will help them analyse individual pupils' attendance records in greater detail, allowing staff to identify concerns earlier and "intervening more quickly when pupils begin to drift away from regular attendance".
He highlighted Fridays as "becoming a particular weak spot for attendance", which is why the government is encouraging schools to introduce engaging clubs and activities on that day to keep pupils motivated and present.
School Leaders' Perspective: A Problem Beyond the Classroom
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the schools leaders' union NAHT, said Thursday's attendance data showed "just how hard it is to drive absence rates back down to pre-pandemic levels". He acknowledged the efforts of schools but stressed that the issue cannot be solved by schools alone or by government targets.
"Schools already go above and beyond in encouraging attendance, but it isn't a problem that they can solve alone or that government targets will fix," Whiteman said. "The issue often has roots beyond the classroom, from illness and mental health challenges to poverty and unmet special educational needs."
Impact on Schools and Families
The new attendance targets will apply to all mainstream state schools in England, meaning headteachers will need to review their current attendance strategies and set clear, measurable goals for improvement. Schools that fail to meet their targets could face sanctions, although specific penalties have not yet been detailed.
For families, the emphasis on Friday clubs could mean a wider range of after-school activities, from sports and arts to homework clubs, designed to make the end of the week more appealing for students. However, the underlying causes of absence, such as health issues and poverty, will require broader social support beyond the school gates.
The government's approach reflects a recognition that attendance is a complex issue influenced by multiple factors. While the new targets and data tools are a step forward, education leaders like Whiteman argue that a collaborative effort involving health services, social care, and community organisations is essential to truly tackle the problem.
As September approaches, schools across England will be preparing to implement these new measures, with the hope of reversing the troubling trend of rising persistent absence and ensuring every child gets the education they deserve.
