New government analysis published this month has put hard numbers behind what many school leaders have long suspected: it's the small, predictable, avoidable absences that are quietly costing schools weeks of learning.

Across all pupils, this data shows overall absence rates are on average 2.7% points higher on a pupil's birthday. The gap peaks in Year 8, when pupils are almost 55% more likely to be absent on their birthday. Add broken end-of-term weeks and the picture is starker.

Schools whose final week of the year isn't a full five days see an average absence rate of 12.2%. That's a significant increase compared to schools with a full last week (9.6%). These figures represent 130,000 missed days of school. 

Friday attendance also follows a clear, structural pattern of lower turnout. These aren't one-offs. They're recurring, predictable and, many would say, preventable.

The government's 94% attendance target

The government has set out the aim that the attendance rate will rise to over 94%, equivalent to children attending 20 million more days of school each year, from the 2028 to 2029 academic year. That ambition starts with the data leaders now have in front of them and the time to act on it.

How schools can use attendance data

Schools should make use of the View Your Education Data tool to compare attendance outcomes of different cohorts at a local and national level to identify where intervention is most needed. The new real-time cohort tool being rolled out to schools (through VYED and your MIS) now makes those micro-patterns, whether it's birthdays, Fridays or broken weeks, visible from the start.

Analysing attendance patterns and trends

The expectation is clear: schools should conduct thorough analysis of half-termly, termly and full-year data to identify patterns and trends, including days of poor attendance. Governing bodies and trust boards should regularly review attendance data at board meetings, examining recent and historic trends at school level and benchmarking against comparator schools within the trust, local area, region and nationwide. This will help identify at what level interventions are needed.

Embedding attendance in school culture

Data is only useful if it leads to change. Good attendance is a learned behaviour, and schools with strong attendance recognise that it isn't a discrete piece of work but an integral part of the school's ethos and culture. Build attendance into assemblies, tutor time, parent communications and governor reporting. It shouldn't be treated as a compliance exercise but as a whole-school conversation.

A 'support first' approach

Good attendance begins with school being somewhere pupils want to be, and the foundation of securing good attendance is that school is a calm, orderly, safe and supportive environment where all pupils are keen and ready to learn. The school attendance guidance is explicit.

At all stages of improving attendance, schools and partners should work collaboratively with pupils and parents to remove barriers to attendance by building strong and trusting relationships. Many schools adopt this 'support first, sanction later' approach. Where a pattern of absence risks becoming problematic, schools should listen to and understand the barriers the pupil or family is experiencing, taking into account the sensitivity of some reasons for absence, rather than reaching immediately for punitive measures.

Practical steps for improving school attendance

1. Audit your calendar: Some broken weeks, such as the start and end of each term, can be prevented through careful scheduling. Review your INSET day placement.
2. Check your policy: All schools must have a clear, written attendance policy that, as a minimum, names the Senior Attendance Champion, sets out day-to-day processes, the strategy for reducing persistent and severe absence, and details of the National Framework for Penalty Notices. In developing and implementing policy, schools must consider their obligations under the Equality Act 2010. 
3. Document your support: Whether absence relates to a birthday or a broader pattern, your records of support offered, and family engagement are your foundation in any escalation discussions.

Attendance and safeguarding

Children missing education can be a warning sign of safeguarding concerns, including neglect and child exploitation. Recognising this is an expectation of all schools. Getting policy and culture right protects pupils and protects schools.

If you would like support reviewing your attendance framework, training on legal compliance, or advice on individual cases, we’re here to help.