More pupils attending state schools, government figures show, as lockdown ‘has positive effect’

‘Disruption remains very significant despite improved picture,’ ASCL general secretary says

Attendance in English state schools increased on 3 December from week before, latest DfE figures show (Getty Images)

The number of students attending state schools has gone up, according to the latest government data, which a union said suggests England’s lockdown had a “positive effect” on reducing the spread of Covid-19.

Fewer children were self-isolating due to a potential contact with a case of coronavirus last Thursday compared to the week before, new Department for Education statistics show.

Around 86 per cent of state school pupils in England were in school on 3 December, after this figure dipped to around 83 per cent on both the 19 and 26 November.

Meanwhile, the number of state schools with at least one pupil self-isolating dropped for the second week in a row, standing at 28 per cent on 3 December – when the latest available data is from.  

“We are pleased that attendance improved last week and that fewer schools had to send home children to self-isolate,” Geoff Barton from the Association for School and College Leaders (ASCL) said in response to the figures.

“This suggests that the recent national lockdown has had a positive effect on reducing transmission of the virus and we are hugely grateful to people across England for the effort and sacrifices they have made.”

Seven to eight per cent of state school pupils – hundreds of thousands of students – were off school last Thursday for corovirus-related reasons, according to DfE estimates, compared to eight to 10 per cent the week before.

“The disruption in schools remains very significant despite this improved picture, and there is a great deal of variability between and within regions,” Mr Barton said about the latest figures. “Many schools are struggling with large numbers of pupils and staff having to self-isolate.”

Paul Whiteman from the school leaders’ union NAHT said there was an “enormous amount of volatility” in attendance figures, and large variations across regions and schools.

“Schools are still struggling to navigate the impact of Covid on pupils and staff,” the general secretary said.

Responding to the latest figures, Gavin Williamson, the UK education secretary, said: “It is encouraging to see that, following national restrictions, attendance has increased again this week, while overall prevalence is falling among both children and adults.”

He added: “Schools, colleges and early years settings across the country have gone above and beyond to remain open, implementing safety measures and scaling up remote education provision for those children who are self-isolating, with approximately 99 per cent of schools open each week since the start of term.”