The Greater Manchester secondary schools with the highest truancy rates

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

New data shows the Greater Manchester state secondary schools that had the highest rates of unauthorised absences in the last academic year.

Across the autumn and spring terms of 2018 and 2019, the national average of school sessions – defined as half a day of school per pupil – missed due to unauthorised absences was just 1.5%.

That figure jumped to 3.0% in 2022/23, and climbed higher to 3.2% in 2023/24, according to the latest official figures collated by Reach’s data unit. READ MORE: Urgent appeal for missing 12-year-old girl last seen at Metrolink stop Many reasons have been put forward to explain the sharp increase in school absences, the principal being the ongoing impact of COVID and its ensuing lockdowns.

A report by the Guardian, which surveyed head teachers and attendance officers, also found in June this year that mental health and anxiety issues were among the biggest drivers.