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Written question asked by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 15 October 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 19 October 2009. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Monday, 26 October 2009 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Pupils: Absenteeism

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average absence rate from school for infant school pupils was in the last year for which figures were available.
Answer

The absence rate for primary school pupils aged five or six is shown in the table. Infant pupils attend a variety of school types. For consistency, data have been provided for all infant pupils regardless of the category of school they attend.Absence data are collected for pupils aged five to 15 at the start of the academic year, excluding boarders.

Primary schools¹, absence rate² for infant pupils³, 4, 2007/08, England
Average absence rate²
Infant pupils³ 5.74
Primary school pupils4 5.26
¹ Includes middle schools as deemed.
² Number of sessions due to overall absence as a percentage of the total number of possible sessions.
³ Pupils attending primary schools, aged five or six as at 31 August 2007, who will become six or seven during the academic year; excluding boarders.
4 Pupils attending primary schools, aged five to 15 as at 31 August 2007, excluding boarders.
Source:
School Census

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
498 c194W;498 c193W; 294327
Session
2008-09
Subjects
Absenteeism Pupils Primary education
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk