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England · School phases
6.60%

Overall absence

2024/256.63%
2025/266.60%
Scale: 0–10% · Same autumn and spring coverage
The attendance edition

Overall absence fell. Severe absence rose.

A closer look at England’s attendance data, and the patterns the headline misses.

Explore the findings

DfE · Autumn and spring terms: 2024/25 and 2025/26
Published analysis

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1 article for “Pupil numbers”

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Fewer pupils. New decisions. 2026 actual and 2031 projected · Principal 2026 model · Ages up to 15 · FTE
Pupil numbers

Fewer pupils ahead: what the national projections mean for school planning

The principal national projection points to smaller nursery, primary and secondary populations. Leaders need local scenarios, not a uniform assumption that every school will shrink.

Published · DfE data
Compare the figures

Pupil numbers by mainstream phase

FTE pupils

England · Pupil numbers · 2026 actual and 2031 projected · Principal 2026 model · Ages up to 15 · FTE

2026 (actual)2031 (projected)
0 2,500,000 5,000,000 Nursery and primary Nursery and primary, 2026 (actual): 4,423,864 FTE pupils 4,423,864 Nursery and primary, 2031 (projected): 3,950,811 FTE pupils 3,950,811 Secondary Secondary, 2026 (actual): 3,216,206 FTE pupils 3,216,206 Secondary, 2031 (projected): 2,967,150 FTE pupils 2,967,150
Nursery and primary
2026 (actual)
4,423,864 FTE pupils
2031 (projected)
3,950,811 FTE pupils
Secondary
2026 (actual)
3,216,206 FTE pupils
2031 (projected)
2,967,150 FTE pupils
0Scale maximum: 5,000,000 FTE pupils

Full-time equivalent pupils aged up to fifteen. The later year is the principal projection, not an observed count. State-funded nursery/primary and secondary school types are shown separately. Scale starts at zero.

SMID Insights analysis · Source: Department for Education, National pupil projections.
Source published 2026-07-16. Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

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Pupil numbers by mainstream phase, FTE pupils
Group2026 (actual) (FTE pupils)2031 (projected) (FTE pupils)
Nursery and primary4,423,8643,950,811
Secondary3,216,2062,967,150
From the source

Look closer at the numbers.

England · Autumn and spring terms: 2024/25 and 2025/26
Overall absence6.60%↓ 0.03 percentage points2024/25 → 2025/26
Persistent absence17.50%↓ 0.13 percentage points2024/25 → 2025/26
Severe absence2.32%↑ 0.06 percentage points2024/25 → 2025/26

Overall absence

Rate (%)

England · School phases · Autumn and spring terms only

2024/252025/26
0% 7.5% 15% Special Special, 2024/25: 12.77 % 12.77 Special, 2025/26: 12.86 % 12.86 Primary State-funded primary, 2024/25: 5.16 % 5.16 State-funded primary, 2025/26: 5.13 % 5.13 Secondary State-funded secondary, 2024/25: 8.09 % 8.09 State-funded secondary, 2025/26: 8.01 % 8.01 All schools Total, 2024/25: 6.63 % 6.63 Total, 2025/26: 6.60 % 6.60
Special
2024/25
12.77 %
2025/26
12.86 %
State-funded primary
2024/25
5.16 %
2025/26
5.13 %
State-funded secondary
2024/25
8.09 %
2025/26
8.01 %
All schools
2024/25
6.63 %
2025/26
6.60 %
0%Scale maximum: 15%

Missed sessions as a percentage of possible sessions. Scale starts at zero.

SMID Insights analysis · Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England.
Source published 2026-10-15. Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

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Overall absence, %
Group2024/25 (%)2025/26 (%)
Special12.7712.86
State-funded primary5.165.13
State-funded secondary8.098.01
Total6.636.60

Persistent absence

Rate (%)

England · School phases · Autumn and spring terms only

2024/252025/26
0% 20% 40% Special Special, 2024/25: 35.21 % 35.21 Special, 2025/26: 34.72 % 34.72 Primary State-funded primary, 2024/25: 13.31 % 13.31 State-funded primary, 2025/26: 13.25 % 13.25 Secondary State-funded secondary, 2024/25: 21.86 % 21.86 State-funded secondary, 2025/26: 21.55 % 21.55 All schools Total, 2024/25: 17.63 % 17.63 Total, 2025/26: 17.50 % 17.50
Special
2024/25
35.21 %
2025/26
34.72 %
State-funded primary
2024/25
13.31 %
2025/26
13.25 %
State-funded secondary
2024/25
21.86 %
2025/26
21.55 %
All schools
2024/25
17.63 %
2025/26
17.50 %
0%Scale maximum: 40%

Pupil enrolments missing 10% or more of possible sessions. Scale starts at zero.

SMID Insights analysis · Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England.
Source published 2026-10-15. Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

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Persistent absence, %
Group2024/25 (%)2025/26 (%)
Special35.2134.72
State-funded primary13.3113.25
State-funded secondary21.8621.55
Total17.6317.50

Severe absence

Rate (%)

England · School phases · Autumn and spring terms only

2024/252025/26
0% 5% 10% Special Special, 2024/25: 6.66 % 6.66 Special, 2025/26: 6.88 % 6.88 Primary State-funded primary, 2024/25: 0.92 % 0.92 State-funded primary, 2025/26: 1.05 % 1.05 Secondary State-funded secondary, 2024/25: 3.62 % 3.62 State-funded secondary, 2025/26: 3.57 % 3.57 All schools Total, 2024/25: 2.26 % 2.26 Total, 2025/26: 2.32 % 2.32
Special
2024/25
6.66 %
2025/26
6.88 %
State-funded primary
2024/25
0.92 %
2025/26
1.05 %
State-funded secondary
2024/25
3.62 %
2025/26
3.57 %
All schools
2024/25
2.26 %
2025/26
2.32 %
0%Scale maximum: 10%

Pupil enrolments missing 50% or more of possible sessions. Scale starts at zero.

SMID Insights analysis · Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England.
Source published 2026-10-15. Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

Explore the data
Severe absence, %
Group2024/25 (%)2025/26 (%)
Special6.666.88
State-funded primary0.921.05
State-funded secondary3.623.57
Total2.262.32

Source: Department for Education · Published 2026-10-15

Data sources

Special educational needs in England ↗

Key stage 4 performance ↗

National pupil projections ↗

Pupil absence in schools in England ↗