Family Influence Emerges as a Key Factor in Student Absenteeism in England
Absenteeism rates in schools across England continue to pose one of the most persistent challenges to the education system. According to the latest data released by the ImpactEd Group, 17.8 per cent of pupils are classified as “persistently absent”, meaning they miss more than 10 per cent of lessons over the course of a term. Experts suggest that this issue is not only academic in nature but also deeply intertwined with social and family dynamics.
The report highlights that pupils’ daily routines, sleep habits, and particularly their attitudes towards attending school when experiencing mild illness play a decisive role in absenteeism. The influence of the home environment becomes more significant with age: while positive changes at home reduce absenteeism by 0.3 per cent among Year 3 pupils, the same factor leads to a 3.4 per cent reduction by Year 12. The findings also show that girls are more strongly affected by their family environment than boys.
The study further reveals that relationships with adults and peers also have a notable impact on school attendance. For boys, strong bonds with teachers tend to reduce absenteeism, whereas close peer relationships can, in some cases, diminish their interest in school. However, among pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, peer connections appear to have a protective effect, encouraging regular attendance.