The Education Secretary has criticised parents who allow their children to skip school on Fridays, calling the behaviour “unacceptable”.
Gillian Keegan told the Times that parents working from home have contributed to a rise in students missing school days.
She said that 50,000 more pupils were absent at the end of the week compared with the start, leaving schools facing “major challenges” with absenteeism as parents pull their children out of class for weekends away or holidays.
According to analysis of recent government figures by the Times, student absenteeism jumps by 20 per cent on the last day of the working week.
According to the Times report, overall absence rates equate to 6.6 per cent on Wednesdays and rise to 7.8 per cent by the end of the week, with primary pupils 21 per cent more likely to be absent on Friday and 24 per cent more likely to be absent without a reason.
Unauthorised holidays are also said to be up 25 per cent on pre-Covid levels.
According to March figures released by the Department of Education, 150,000 children at state schools were classed as severely absent for the 2022-23 school year.
That is 30,000 more than the year prior.
It is also 150 per cent higher than the 60,000 who were severely absent in 2018-19, before the pandemic, according to government statistics.
Ms Keegan told the paper that “the Covid pandemic has had a major impact on school attendance”.
She said there were “still too many children whose attendance hasn’t recovered” following the pandemic, with a rise in youth mental health issues also thought to be a contributing factor.
Ms Keegan wants to see normal school attendance return, telling parents: “It is unacceptable to take a deliberate decision to take your child out of school.”
She also said those with mild anxiety should be expected to attend campuses.
Ms Keegan said support systems such as attendance hubs and mentors could make “a massive difference” for schools and parents.
“Where this support-first approach does not work, we have increased the minimum fine by £20, to £80,” she said.
“Every day a child is absent they will miss on average five to six lessons, time they never get back”.
The PA news agency has approached the National Association of Head Teachers, the National Education Union, and Unison for comment.
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