questionText: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of school days lost each year due to pupils being absent on their birthday; and whether she plans to issue guidance to schools and local authorities on that issue.
answerText: In 2024/25, around 100,000 days in school were lost due to pupils being absent on their birthday, with pupils being up to 55% more likely to be absent. In June, we updated our attendance toolkit for schools, providing practical guidance and case studies t...
heading: Pupils: Absenteeism