School absence rates have rocketed - the whole educational experience needs to change

Sue Roffey Dr Sue Roffey (UCL Psychology & Language Sciences) explores the impact and reasons behind rising school absences in The Conversation. More than  140,000 pupils  in the UK are absent from from school more than 50% of the time: more than double the number from before the pandemic. Not being in school matters - and not only because pupils miss out on learning. Teachers play an important role monitoring the welfare of their students, and if young people are on the streets rather than at school they are also  more at risk of harm and exploitation. Absence rates have prompted  increasing concern  from the government. Up until now, measures to tackle absence have focused on  blaming parents and issuing fines : more than a third of a million so far. More recently, the government has acknowledged the role played by inadequate support for special needs and disability as well as the impact of mental health on pupil attendance.