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Written question asked by Catherine West (Labour) on Monday, 22 July 2019, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 24 July 2019. It was answered by Nick Gibb (Conservative) on Tuesday, 30 July 2019 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Protest: Students

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what his policy is on collecting data on students missing school to take part in climate change protests.

Answer

The information requested is not held centrally. The Department collects data on school absence, which includes authorised and unauthorised absence data, but does not include whether the absence is due to attending climate change protests. Our most recently published data on pupil absence can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/pupil-absence-in-schools-in-england-2017-to-2018.

Schools are required to take the attendance register each morning and afternoon. They must record whether each pupil is: present; absent; attending an approved educational activity; or unable to attend due to exceptional circumstances. Where a pupil is absent, it is for the school to decide whether the absence should be authorised or not.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
280461
Session
2017-19
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Climate change Protest Students
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk