When discussing school attendance, illness is often assumed to be the primary cause of absence. However, new research from the Department for Education suggests that many short-term absences are linked to predictable events and behavioural patterns that schools may be able to anticipate and address.
Using attendance data from schools across England, the research examined the impact of annual events, local activities and calendar design on pupil attendance.
One of the most significant findings relates to medical appointments. While appointments account for millions of missed sessions each year, the study found that many pupils who miss a morning or afternoon session for an appointment do not return for the remainder of the day. This suggests that the impact of appointments often extends beyond the time required for the appointment itself.
The research also highlighted the effect of school calendar design. Schools that ended the academic year with a shortened final week experienced notably higher absence rates than schools with a full final week. This finding suggests that attendance behaviour can be influenced by how pupils and families perceive the importance of particular school days.
Some of the more surprising findings involved personal and community events. Pupils were more likely to be absent on their birthdays than on other school days, particularly in secondary school. Religious observance also created predictable spikes in absence, with the majority linked to the celebrations of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
The report further explored the influence of local events. Attendance fell noticeably during the Royal Norfolk Show among pupils in Norfolk, while analysis of Taylor Swift’s Liverpool concerts found a measurable increase in absence among some groups of secondary-aged girls on concert days.
Taken together, the findings reinforce an important message: attendance is not solely influenced by illness or unforeseen circumstances. It is also shaped by behavioural, cultural and calendar-related factors that can often be anticipated.
For schools and attendance leaders, this presents an opportunity. By understanding local attendance patterns, planning around predictable events and reviewing school calendar decisions, schools may be able to reduce avoidable absences and target interventions more effectively.
The report is a useful reminder that improving attendance is not just about responding to absence when it occurs. It is also about understanding the factors that drive it in the first place.
Source: School attendance: annual and one-off events driving short-term absences
