With schools preparing their students for GCSE and A-Level exams, they need pupils to attend class as often as possible.
The latest absence and attendance figures cover the full 2023/24 school year and show the overall absence rate as a percentage of the total number of pupils. The figures are broken down into authorised and unauthorised sessions – a session is a half-day missed by a pupil. In the list below, we refer to the number of authorised and unauthorised absences, which relates to these half-day sessions.
We have taken a look at overall absence rates for state-funded second schools across West Northamptonshire and, using this data, we have created a league table for parents.
As a comparison, across the country, the overall absence rate for all primary and secondary schools was 7.1 percent, down from 7.4 percent in 2022/23.
5. Sponne School
Sponne School in Towcester had an absence rate of 6.4 per cent for its 1,178 pupils, with 19,861 authorised absences and 7,220 unauthorised absences. Photo: Google
6. The Duston School
The Duston School had an absence rate of 7.1 per cent for its 1,782 pupils, with 24,175 authorised absences and 19,124 unauthorised absences. Photo: Google
7. Chenderit School
Chenderit School in Middleton Cheney had an absence rate of 7.1 per cent for its 917 pupils, with 19,830 authorised absences and 3,597 unauthorised. Photo: Google
8. Caroline Chisholm School
Caroline Chisholm School had an absence rate of 7.2 per cent for its 1,793 students, with 36,953 authorised absences and 9,431 unauthorised. Photo: Google