Truancy jumps by a FIFTH on Fridays as ministers blame WFH parents pulling their children out of school for long weekends and holidays

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has blamed parents working from home for an 'unacceptable' spike in school absences on Fridays.

An analysis of Government figures has shown unauthorised absences are 20 per cent higher on Fridays than Wednesdays.

Ms Keegan said schools were facing 'major challenges' with parents taking their children out of the classrooms for long weekends or holidays without permission.

Writing in The Times, the Education Secretary said: 'There are still major challenges with data showing unauthorised holiday absence increasing by 25 per cent.

'There are regularly 50,000 more pupil absences on a Fridays compared with Mondays, which could be linked with many parents working from home.'

The Cabinet minister said that being in school was 'fundamental to a child's future success in life' as she vowed to improve attendance rates as her 'top priority'.

She also set out her intention to restore social norms about children attending school every day, as she admitted the Covid pandemic 'had a major impact on school attendance'.

'We are very clear: it is unacceptable to take a deliberate decision to take your child out of school,' the Education Secretary said.

The Times reported that Ms Keegan wants to move on from Covid-era expectations that children with runny noses and other minor ailments should stay at home, while stressing that those with mild anxiety should also be expected to attend school.

The newspaper's analysis of Government data showed absence rates rose from 4.7 per cent in 2019 to 7.6 per cent in 2021 and remain at 7 per cent.

According to daily data for the current academic year, overall absence rates are 6.6 per cent on Wednesdays, rising to 7.8 per cent on Fridays.

The trend was even more pronounced for unauthorised absences, which are 20 per cent higher on Fridays than Wednesdays.

The gap is biggest in primary schools, suggesting parents rather than pupils are driving the spike in Friday absences.

Primary pupils are 21 per cent more likely to be absent on Friday and 24 per cent more likely to be absent without reason.

In her article, Ms Keegan said that regular school attendance 'isn't just about getting the best academic grades.

'It's also about the things we often take for granted - like making friends in the playground, building vital social skills and a curriculum which gives them the best chance to reach their true potential,' she added.

The Education Secretary outlined how the Government was pursuing a 'support-first approach' to tackling school absence - but also warned of punitive measures.

'Where this support-first approach does not work, we have increased the minimum fine by £20 up to £80,' she said.

'We are very clear: it is unacceptable to take a deliberate decision to take your child out of school.

'This matters because every day a child is absent means they will miss on average five to six lessons — time they will never get back.

She added: 'There are still too many children whose attendance hasn’t yet recovered.

'That’s why we will do everything we can to support schools, parents and children to overcome the obstacles that lead to school absence.'

According to figures for March, released by the Department of Education, 150,000 children at state schools were classed as severely absent for the 2022-23 school year. That was 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.