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1. National information on attendance and absence in primary schools
Attendance in primary schools, across all stages, averaged 95%. Absence across all stages averaged 5%; almost all absence was authorised. The average attendance figure for each stage of primary schools was close to this overall average figure of 95%.
Put another way, the figure of 5% absence in primary schools is equivalent to each primary pupil being absent for 20 half days out of a school session of 380 half days. That would be 2 school weeks out of 38. Obviously the situation was more complex than this because some pupils were absent more than 20 half days and others were absent for fewer half days.
The level of attendance and absence is relatively stable between 1996/97, 1997/98 and 1998/99.
Graph1: National average attendance and absence for primary schools, 1998/99
2. National information on attendance and absence in secondary schools
Attendance in secondary schools, across all stages, averaged 89%. Absence across all stages averaged 11%.
Put another way, the figure of 11% absence in secondary schools is equivalent to each secondary school pupil being absent for 42 half days out of a school session of 380 half days. That would be more than 4school weeks out of 38.
Obviously the situation was more complex than this because some pupils were absent more than 42half days and others were absent for fewer half days.
Attendance and absence in secondary schools is stable between 1996/97, 1997/98 and 1998/99.
Graph2: National average attendance and absence for secondary schools, 1998/99
The overall picture in secondary schools, unlike primary schools, does vary by stage. It is therefore worth looking at more closely. The average attendance figure at each stage in secondary schools showed a decline from S1 to S5 of about 6 percentage points.
Graph 3: Attendance and absence at each stage in secondary schools, 1998/99
The average figure for attendance in P7 was 95%. The figure for S1 was 92%. The fall in attendance between primary and secondary sectors is even more striking if the figure for attendance in P7 (95%) is compared with the figure for S4 of 85%.
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