WFH parents blamed for causing increase in Friday school absenteeism

Gillian Keegan, the Education Secretary, has expressed concern about a noticeable increase in the number of children skipping school on Fridays, attributing the trend to parents working from home.

Keegan highlighted a significant increase of 50,000 more students absent from school by the end of the week compared to Monday, posing significant challenges for educational institutions. Parents are reportedly taking their children out of classes for longer weekends and holidays, exacerbating the problem.

According to government data analysis, Friday school absences have increased by 20%, while unauthorized holiday absences have increased by 25% compared to pre-pandemic levels. Keegan stressed that increasing visitor numbers is of paramount importance, especially as official figures point to continued higher absenteeism rates after 2020.

Keegan acknowledged the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on school attendance and highlighted the need to tackle the long-standing problem of children with poor school attendance. She strives to restore the social norm of daily attendance and firmly stated that it is unacceptable for parents to deliberately keep their children out of school.

Keegan’s guidance extends to Covid-era practices, suggesting children with minor ailments or mild anxiety should still attend school. Despite government efforts to reduce absenteeism, the figures remain at 7%, prompting Keegan to issue a warning against treating school attendance as optional.

Detailed data analysis has enabled targeted interventions such as attendance centers and mentors to support schools and parents. Keegan emphasized a ‘support-first’ approach, coupled with increased fines for repeat absences, underscoring the importance of every missed day of school.

While some attribute the rise in absenteeism to parents working from home, others argue that broader factors such as mental health issues and socio-economic issues are the main drivers. Nevertheless, Keegan remains steadfast in her commitment to ensuring that every child receives the education they deserve, emphasizing the crucial role of regular school attendance in shaping their future success.