The number of unauthorised absences in Bexley primary schools has been revealed in new data.

In 2024, the spring term began the same week as New Year’s Day, and this was the week with the highest number of absences since the start of this academic year.

The data shows absences from the week commencing September 11, 2023, through to February 5, 2024.

The week with the highest number of unauthorised absences in Bexley primary schools is the one commencing January 1, 2024.

On this week, the rate of unauthorised absences was 4.48 per cent.

The week with the second highest rate of unauthorised absences was the week commencing October 16, 2023, at 2.01 per cent.

However, the week with the lowest rate of unauthorised absences is the week commencing November 6, 2023, at 1.10 per cent.

The next week with a low rate of unauthorised absences is the week commencing January 29 at 1.17 per cent.

These figures are automatically submitted to the Department of Education (DfE) by participating schools.

The figures also relate to the attendance of pupils in state-funded primary, secondary, and special schools in England for the current academic year (2023/24) from September 11 to February 9, 2024.

An unauthorised absence refers to a child's absence from school without proper permission or justification, which can result in penalties, such as fines.

There are many reasons why parents might take their children out of school in the middle of the school year, with one being to avoid peak holiday costs.