Bolton children missing schools stands at 20 per cent

Department for Education figures show 9,476 out of 46,711 total pupils in Bolton missed at least 10 per cent of lesson time in the 2021-22 academic year.

It meant 20.3 per cent of pupils were persistently absent – significantly up from 10.5 per cent the year before and 11 per cent in 2018-19, the last full academic year before the pandemic.

• Also read: More than a quarter of Bolton people have high level of qualifications

Meanwhile, the overall absence rate in Bolton schools rose substantially from 4.3 per cent to 6.9 per cent.

A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: “Across the UK, schools have been seeing lower attendance rates than before the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Despite these challenges, Bolton has better attendance rates than the England average and our statistical neighbours.

“Our first priority is to work constructively with schools and families to address attendance issues.

“However, we also have the statutory power to issue penalty notices.

“Shortly before the pandemic, we lowered the threshold for issuing a fine from 10 days of unauthorised absence to five days.

“This move brought us in line with the majority of the rest of the country.”

Across England, 1.6 million pupils were persistently absent, more than double the 800,000 who missed at least 10 per cent of their lessons in 2018-19.

The Association of School and College Leaders said schools work very hard to improve attendances but have received little support from local authorities due to government cuts.

It called on the Government to publish a "nationwide attendance strategy" to support struggling families and schools.

• Also read: TikTok user reveals Bolton has highest number of pupils who have been permanently excluded

The persistent absent rate sat between 10 and 12 per cent in recent years but jumped to 22.5 per cent in the last academic year.

The coronavirus pandemic was the primary reason for the significant rise in pupil absences.

Julie McCulloch, director of policy at the ASCL, said that while absence rates were affected by the pandemic, "attendance continues to be extremely challenging".

This is due to "escalating rates of poor mental health, poverty, and abuse and neglect, which are compounded by an erosion in the provision of local support services over the past decade," she said.

Ms McCulloch added: "Schools work very hard to encourage good attendance but have little support as local authority attendance services have also reduced as a result of government cuts. We need a nationwide attendance strategy which supports struggling families and schools."

The figures also show 120,000 pupils missed at least 50 per cent of their lessons in England last year – up from 80,000 the year before and 60,000 in 2018-19.

In Bolton, 649 pupils (1.4 per cent) were severely absent throughout the academic year – up from 362 in 2020-21.

Ellie Mulcahy, director of research at Think Tank The Centre for Education and Youth, said the rise in pupil absence is "disturbing".

"We know that just a few days off school can have a serious impact on young people's later attainment," Ms Mulcahy added.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "The vast majority of children are in school and learning.

"We work closely with schools, trusts, governing bodies, and local authorities to identify pupils who are at risk of becoming, or who are persistently absent and working together to support those children to return to regular and consistent education."

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @chloewjourno.