Schools with high absences that can demonstrate they are doing “all they reasonably can” to raise attendance will be judged “favourably” during inspections, Ofsted has said.
The watchdog has published a blog post that aims to clarify its position on attendance, as higher levels persist post-pandemic.
Government data shows 22.3 per cent of pupils missed more than one in ten sessions last year. The overall absence was 7.2 per cent in the week-starting October 16, much higher than pre-pandemic norms.
Ofsted said it remained “very concerned about the effect this will have on children”.
