Nearly 1 in 3 secondary school pupils in Lincolnshire were persistently absent during the 2022-23 school year, according to government data.

Recent figures released by the Department for Education concerning school attendance in Lincolnshire highlight a trend in persistent absences, particularly among secondary school pupils.

The persistent absence rate for secondary school pupils stands at a significant 29.2%, which translates to nearly 1 in 3 pupils. This is in contrast to the 15.3% rate for primary school pupils, which is roughly 1 in 7.

The Centre for Education and Youth has indicated that both the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis are affecting school attendance.

Councillor Patricia Bradwell, the executive member for children's services at Lincolnshire County Council, commented: "Like other areas of the country, Lincolnshire has seen a rise in persistent absence following the pandemic.

"There are likely to be a range of reasons for this. For example, lockdown and periods of self-isolation seem to have lowered immunity to the usual childhood illnesses, leading to increased sickness absence.

"Some children are anxious about returning to a busy school environment, and some parents are reluctant to make them return or have found it difficult to reintroduce the usual daily structure.

"We've also seen more families in Lincolnshire tempted by term-time holidays as travel restrictions have eased.

"All these elements have likely contributed to the surge in absences."

In Lincolnshire, primary school pupils missed 5.7% of sessions, while secondary school pupils missed 9.6%.

To address this, Lincolnshire County Council has introduced its school attendance strategy.

This strategy prioritises creating a calm, orderly, safe, and supportive school environment.

It acknowledges that absence reasons often vary among pupils and families, necessitating tailored solutions.

The council's school attendance team supports Lincolnshire schools, offering guidance on addressing issues leading to increased absences and fostering a culture of consistent attendance.

Alix Robertson, Head of Engagement at the Centre for Education and Youth, remarked on the national trend, noting that the Covid-19 pandemic's effects "continue to overshadow schools and students."

She highlighted that many families, burdened by the cost-of-living crisis, face challenges that might affect school attendance.

Nationally, the figures surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with 22.3% of pupils persistently absent.

The overall absence rate of 7.5% on average for all types of schools. remained unchanged from the previous academic year. Secondary students recorded the highest unauthorised absence rate, missing 2.7% of sessions.

Before the pandemic in 2018-19, the national persistent absence rate was 8.5% for primary schools and 14% for secondary schools.

The Association of Schools and College Leaders emphasised the role of deteriorating mental health and wellbeing post-lockdown in driving absences.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan stated, "We support parents and teachers throughout the year to ensure children attend school – from attendance mentors and school staff assisting children and families directly, to our Holiday Activity and Food programmes that run during the summer, preparing children for the new school year in September."