Tens of thousands of pupils missing a day of school every fortnight, figures show

More than 180,000 pupils are missing an entire day of school every two weeks, figures show.

A series of information requests by the Scottish Conservatives revealed 184,845 children in primary and secondary school were absent for at least one day every fortnight in 2023-24.

The statistics, released by councils across Scotland, show another 71,852 pupils missed a day of school each week, meaning tens of thousands of pupils were absent for at least 20% of school last year.

The real number could be higher though as three councils – West Lothian, Renfrewshire and Clackmannanshire – did not respond to the Tories’ FOI requests.

The Scottish Government said the attendance rate across the entire country over the last year stood at 90.3% – down around 3% since pre-Covid levels.

Tory education spokesman Miles Briggs accused the Government of “being asleep at the wheel” while the “crisis” continues to grow.

He said the figures must be an “urgent wake-up call” for ministers to “do all they can” to get children back into the classroom.

Mr Briggs said: “These figures are deeply alarming and point to a growing trend of many children simply not turning up for school.

“SNP ministers have been asleep at the wheel while this crisis has escalated.

“We know that the best place for pupils to learn is in the classroom but soaring numbers are now absent for at least a day every fortnight.”

Mr Briggs said the absence rates are having a “hugely detrimental impact” on children’s education and well-being.

He continued: “The true figures are likely to be even higher as not all of Scotland’s councils provided figures.

“SNP ministers have failed to act as violence has spiralled out of control in our schools, meaning many pupils feel unsafe in the classroom.

“These shocking figures must be an urgent wake-up call for SNP ministers to do everything they can to encourage pupils back into the classroom in the year ahead.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “Scotland’s schools, like those across the UK, are continuing to respond to a variety of challenges, post-pandemic – and we know that Covid lockdowns have affected school attendance.

“It was welcome to see some positive improvement in attendance and persistent absence levels in the most recent statistics published.

“School attendance is the responsibility of local authorities, who carry the statutory responsibility for the delivery of education in Scotland.

“To support them, the Education Secretary last year commissioned further advice from Education Scotland, who have published a range of good practice support materials for schools.

“Furthermore, as part of the £1bn Scottish Attainment Challenge, every local authority in Scotland has school attendance as a stretch aim – and every council in the country has identified action they are taking at school level.

“We know that many headteachers, for example, are using the Scottish Government-backed Pupil Equity Fund, which is helping to employ additional staff to help with school attendance post-pandemic

“Finally, the Scottish Government has announced that there will be a national marketing campaign to help support improving attendance and reducing absence in the new year.”