Unauthorised Absences Widen Disadvantage Gap in England's Schools
In This Article
HIGHLIGHTS
- Research by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) reveals that children from low-income families are up to 19 months behind peers by age 16 due to increased school absences.
- Unauthorised school absences are a significant factor in the widening disadvantage gap, particularly affecting students on free school meals.
- The gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers had been narrowing before the Covid-19 pandemic but has since worsened.
- The Department for Education aims to improve attendance, with recent data showing pupils on free school meals are twice as likely to be absent.
- Experts call for more research into the impact of the pandemic on educational attainment and the need for systemic support to address attendance issues.
The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated educational disparities in England, with children from low-income families falling significantly behind their peers due to increased school absences. According to a recent analysis by the Education Policy Institute (EPI), students from the poorest backgrounds are now up to 19 months behind by the time they reach 16 years of age.
Impact of Unauthorised Absences
The EPI's research highlights unauthorised school absences as a primary driver of the widening disadvantage gap. The analysis indicates that students on free school meals, who are more likely to miss school, are several months behind in their academic performance compared to their peers. Emily Hunt, the EPI's associate director of social mobility, emphasized that addressing the root causes of these absences is crucial to closing the gap.
Covid-19's Lingering Effects
Before the pandemic, efforts to narrow the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers were showing progress. However, the pandemic has reversed these gains, with persistent absences now affecting 15% of primary school children, up from 8% pre-Covid. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson acknowledged the pandemic's "serious and profound shift" in attitudes towards school attendance, noting the long-term impact on children's life chances.
Challenges and Solutions
School leaders, such as Pepe Di’Iasio of the Association of School and College Leaders, argue that the responsibility for improving attendance should not fall solely on educators. He pointed out that fines for unauthorised absences often exacerbate tensions between schools and families. The Department for Education is prioritizing regular school attendance, with recent data showing that pupils on free school meals are twice as likely to be absent.
Need for Further Research
The EPI also found that children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) who are not identified early are likely to fall behind. Additionally, girls have been making less progress than boys since the pandemic, prompting calls for further research into the gender attainment gap and its links to mental health.
WHAT THIS MIGHT MEAN
Moving forward, the government's efforts to improve school attendance will be critical in addressing the widening disadvantage gap. Experts suggest that increasing the early years pupil premium could provide much-needed support for disadvantaged children. Additionally, further research into the pandemic's impact on educational attainment, particularly among girls and children with Send, could inform more effective policy interventions. As schools and policymakers work to reverse these trends, the focus will likely remain on understanding and mitigating the complex factors contributing to unauthorised absences.
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Unauthorised Absences Widen Disadvantage Gap in England's Schools
In This Article
Aya Nakamura| Published HIGHLIGHTS
- Research by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) reveals that children from low-income families are up to 19 months behind peers by age 16 due to increased school absences.
- Unauthorised school absences are a significant factor in the widening disadvantage gap, particularly affecting students on free school meals.
- The gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers had been narrowing before the Covid-19 pandemic but has since worsened.
- The Department for Education aims to improve attendance, with recent data showing pupils on free school meals are twice as likely to be absent.
- Experts call for more research into the impact of the pandemic on educational attainment and the need for systemic support to address attendance issues.
The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated educational disparities in England, with children from low-income families falling significantly behind their peers due to increased school absences. According to a recent analysis by the Education Policy Institute (EPI), students from the poorest backgrounds are now up to 19 months behind by the time they reach 16 years of age.
Impact of Unauthorised Absences
The EPI's research highlights unauthorised school absences as a primary driver of the widening disadvantage gap. The analysis indicates that students on free school meals, who are more likely to miss school, are several months behind in their academic performance compared to their peers. Emily Hunt, the EPI's associate director of social mobility, emphasized that addressing the root causes of these absences is crucial to closing the gap.
Covid-19's Lingering Effects
Before the pandemic, efforts to narrow the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers were showing progress. However, the pandemic has reversed these gains, with persistent absences now affecting 15% of primary school children, up from 8% pre-Covid. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson acknowledged the pandemic's "serious and profound shift" in attitudes towards school attendance, noting the long-term impact on children's life chances.
Challenges and Solutions
School leaders, such as Pepe Di’Iasio of the Association of School and College Leaders, argue that the responsibility for improving attendance should not fall solely on educators. He pointed out that fines for unauthorised absences often exacerbate tensions between schools and families. The Department for Education is prioritizing regular school attendance, with recent data showing that pupils on free school meals are twice as likely to be absent.
Need for Further Research
The EPI also found that children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) who are not identified early are likely to fall behind. Additionally, girls have been making less progress than boys since the pandemic, prompting calls for further research into the gender attainment gap and its links to mental health.
WHAT THIS MIGHT MEAN
Moving forward, the government's efforts to improve school attendance will be critical in addressing the widening disadvantage gap. Experts suggest that increasing the early years pupil premium could provide much-needed support for disadvantaged children. Additionally, further research into the pandemic's impact on educational attainment, particularly among girls and children with Send, could inform more effective policy interventions. As schools and policymakers work to reverse these trends, the focus will likely remain on understanding and mitigating the complex factors contributing to unauthorised absences.
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UK Government's SEND Reforms Spark Debate Over Funding and Accessibility
Government Unveils Ambitious Plan to Halve Attainment Gap in England's Schools
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UK Government Eases Deer Culling to Protect Woodlands and Farmland
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