The Scottish Government

This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

Listen

Attendance and Absence in Schools 2002-2003

03/12/2003

The latest data on attendance and absence in Scottish schools is published today by the Executive's Education Department.

Attendance and absence information is provided to the Executive by local authorities and managers of grant-aided schools. Summary information for local authorities and for Scotland is shown.

The main findings are:

• Total rate of absence for primary schools in 2002/3 was 5.1 per cent. This was slightly higher than in 2001/02, but lower than in most recent years.
• Total rate of absence for secondary schools in 2002/3 was 10.8 per cent. This was a decrease from 11.1 per cent in 2001/02 and was the lowest rate in recent years.
• Authorised absence in primary schools in 2002/03 was 4.8 per cent. This was slightly higher than in 2001/2, but lower than in most recent years.
• Authorised absence in secondary schools in 2002/03 was 9.3 per cent. This was a decrease from 9.6 in 2001/02 and was the lowest rate in recent years.
• Unauthorised absence in primary schools increased slightly, from 0.34 per cent in 2001/02 to 0.36 per cent in 2002/03, and was the highest rate in recent years. Within this, unauthorised absence due to temporary exclusion was 0.02 per cent and unauthorised absence due to truancy and other was 0.34 per cent.
• Unauthorised absence in secondary schools also decreased from 1.51 per cent in 2001/02 to 1.43 per cent in 2002/03. Within this, unauthorised absence due to temporary exclusion was 0.22 per cent and unauthorised absence due to truancy and other was 1.21 per cent.
• Absences, both authorised and unauthorised, were fairly stable between P1 and P7, and then increased steadily through to S4, before decreasing slightly in S5.
• The percentage attendance in primary schools by local authority ranged from 92.9 per cent (Glasgow City) to 96.3 per cent (East Renfrewshire).
• The percentage attendance in secondary schools by local authority ranged from 85.7 per cent (Glasgow City) to 93.8 per cent (East Renfrewshire).
• Percentage unauthorised absence in primary schools by local authority ranged from 0.004 per cent (East Renfrewshire) to 0.8 per cent (Clackmannanshire).
• Percentage unauthorised absence for secondary schools by local authority ranged from 0.1 per cent (East Renfrewshire) to 4.6 per cent (Clackmannanshire).
• Per pupil, the average total absence in primary schools was just under two school weeks (19 half days), out of a possible 38 school weeks. By local authority, this ranged from 14 half days per pupils (East Renfrewshire) to 27 half days per pupil (Glasgow City).
• Per pupil, the average total absence in secondary schools was over four school weeks, (41 half days) out of a possible 38 school weeks. By local authority, this ranged from 23 half days per pupil (East Renfrewshire) to 54 half days per pupil (Glasgow City).
• On average, there were around 52,000 pupils (7.4 per cent) absent from LA schools each day, of which 5,600 pupils (0.8 per cent) were unauthorised absent. This compares to 53,000 and 5,800 pupils respectively in 2001/02.

Generally, there were higher rates of absence in urban areas than in rural areas

In general, schools with higher levels of free school meal entitlement had higher levels of absence, although there were many schools which did not follow this trend.

Scottish Office Circulars 1/95 and 10/95 gave specific guidance to schools and education authorities on the categorisation of attendance and absence.

Attendance was defined as:

participation in the programme of educational activities arranged by the school. In addition to actual attendance within the school premises, it covered:

• work experience
• educational visits
• day and residential visits to outdoor centres
• college/consortium school study
• interviews and visits relating to further and/or higher education
• debates, sports, musical or theatrical productions etc. arranged by, or in conjunction with, the school
• activities in connection with psychological services
• school medical examinations off-site
• hospital tuition

Authorised absence was defined as:

• sickness
• medical and dental treatment
• bereavement
• domestic circumstances relating to exceptional hardship at home
• no school within walking distance and no transport arrangements
• study leave
• religious observance
• family holidays where attendance is otherwise satisfactory
• meetings prior to, and in, court
• attendance at, or in connection with, a Child Care Review
• attendance at, or in connection with, a Children's Hearing
• weddings of immediate family
• certified debates, sports, musical or theatrical productions not arranged by, or in conjunction with, the school
• extended visits overseas to relatives
• sanctioned, extended absence in relation to children of travelling families

Unauthorised absence was defined as:

• temporary exclusions arising from incidents in or out of class
• truancy, an application having been made to the education authority in relation to an attendance order
• truancy, an appeal having been made to the Sheriff in relation to an attendance order
• family holidays where attendance is otherwise unsatisfactory
• truancy, defined as unauthorised absence from school, for any period, as a result of premeditated or spontaneous action on the part of the pupil, parent or both
• unexplained absence

Attendance and absence information is provided to the Scottish Executive by the education authorities, and managers of grant-aided schools. This report does not give information on attendance and absence in special schools, independent schools or pre-school establishments.

Percentages for authorised and unauthorised absence relate to the total number of possible attendances. For many schools this is 380 half-day sessions during the school year. However, almost all schools in the Lothian's operate 342 half-day sessions in the school year.

The education authority average is the average number of half-days authorised or unauthorised absence for all pupils in education authority schools only. The national average is the average number of half-days authorised or unauthorised absence for education authority and grant-aided schools in Scotland.

The information shown for attendance and absence is for the academic year. Schools which closed during the 2002/2003 session, and for which data was available, were included in the education authority figures. The attendance and absence of S6 pupils and of adults attending day-school classes have been excluded from the figures as they are beyond the age of compulsory schooling. 6. Local interpretation of national guidance may influence the figures reported by schools or education authorities, from whom further information can be obtained. 7. In previous years, this publication had included school level information. This year, school level data will be released in a new format on a website in December.

From 2003/04 attendance and absence data will be collected in a wider range of categories. They will also take into account changes to attendance and absence guidance set out in SEED Circular 5/03 and its Addendum, in particular the reclassification of medical and dental appointments as attendance, the recording of exclusions separately from other types of absence and the definition of extended leave with parental consent. These figures are due to be published in December 2004. 9.

This is a National Statistics publication. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.

Public non-media enquiries should be addressed to Bianca Heggie, Scottish Executive Education Department, Room 1-A, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ. Telephone 0131 244 0300 or e-mail school.stats@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.