The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed it will encourage schools to run more after-school clubs and enrichment programmes from September 1, aiming to keep pupils engaged throughout the school week. Education minister Paul Waugh, recently appointed to the brief by Labour Party government Prime Minister Andy Burnham, confirmed the fresh guidance.
Friday Absence Data Spurs New Guidance
Mr Waugh highlighted that illness-related absence rises by almost a quarter on Fridays, according to data he has commissioned further investigation into. He said: “One of the most interesting anomalies in the data where I have commissioned further investigation is illness absence going up almost a quarter on Fridays. Different schools see different patterns, so we are constantly improving the data we give to schools, so they can see if they’re suffering more than comparable schools with this issue.”
He added: “It’s possible that where pupils are less engaged with school overall, Friday is becoming a particular weak spot for attendance. We’re encouraging schools to share innovative strategies like putting on interesting clubs and enrichment on Fridays, so every child stays engaged right through to the end of the week.”
Broader Challenges and Persistent Absence
Mr Waugh also addressed other factors affecting attendance, including the impact of screens on sleep, bullying linked to social media use, and the growing number of children with special educational needs. He stressed the need for an inclusive education system, saying: “Ultimately, every day in school matters. And then there’s so many other issues: the effect of screens on sleep; the bullying associated with social media use; the rise in the number of children with special educational needs and how we create a genuinely inclusive education system.”
He acknowledged the scale of the challenge: “None of this will change things overnight, but we cannot collectively accept that higher levels of absence is simply the new normal. The world has changed. Schools and families face pressures that previous generations didn’t. We must adapt to those realities. But what cannot change is our ambition or our moral mission to give every child the best start in life.”
Attendance Rates and Persistent Absence Statistics
DfE data shows an overall attendance rate of 93% for 2025/26, a slight decrease on the previous year. This includes both authorised absences, such as illness, and unauthorised absences, where pupils miss school without permission or a valid reason.
Persistent absence rates have doubled since the pandemic. A pupil is considered persistently absent if they miss at least 10% of school sessions. In 2018/19, persistent absence rates for England state schools were around 10%, while the most recent data showed it at 19% in 2025/26.
Mr Waugh concluded: “Every missed school day is a missed opportunity. As the minister responsible, I will make sure that we match the scale of the challenge with the scale of our response.”
