Survey reveals thousands of pupils missing school due to Covid-19 in Sheffield

With falling attendance rates across England, but lowest in parts of the north, the Association of School and College Leaders is calling for the Government to provide more support and guidance to schools.

The Department for Education's survey of school attendance showed 12,868 pupils were absent from Sheffield schools on October 15 – with an overall attendance rate of 82 per cent.

Of these, 55 per cent were absent from secondary schools, 42 per cent from primary schools and around three per cent from special schools.

The survey only looked at state-funded schools, of which 86 per cent responded, so it is likely even more pupils were off throughout the area.

The figures, which were placed in the House of Commons library following a written question from MP Margaret Greenwood, showed the total attendance rate across England was 89 per cent – down from 90 per cent a week earlier. The DfE said up to 412,000 children did not attend school for Covid-19 related reasons, with the majority self-isolating due to potential contact with a case of coronavirus.

More than a fifth of schools said they had one or more pupils self-isolating who had been asked to do so due to potential contact with a case of coronavirus inside the school.

Andrew Jones, Director of Education and Skills at Sheffield City Council said: “The majority of these absences are COVID-19 related. To make sure our schools can remain open for the majority, some children, young people and school staff will have to take time off to isolate if they have symptoms, or if they have come into close contact with someone who has COVID-19. Our schools have prepared for this and have worked hard to set up new ways for their pupils to continue learning, including online lessons, work sheets and planned activities to do at home, so that all children and young people who have to isolate will be able continue their education.”

Attendance rates varied greatly across the country, in Sheffield, 78 per cent of secondary pupils were in class on October 15. This was lower than the average across Yorkshire.

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