Record number of borough pupils missing over half of school lessons

A record number of school pupils in South Tyneside are missing more than half of classes, figures show.

- by Gazette Reporter

Figures from the Department for Education (DfE) show 491 pupils in the borough were classed as being 'severely absent' in this school year's autumn and spring terms - meaning they missed at least half of their school sessions.

In all, they accounted for 2.5% of students in the area - up from two per cent in the same terms during the 2023/24 school year and the highest rate since records began in 2016-17.

In addition, 19.8% of students in South Tyneside were classed as 'persistently absent' - meaning they missed 10% or more of sessions - although this was down from 22%.

Nationally, the rate of 'persistently absent' students stood at 17.6% in 2024/25 - down on the 19.2% a year earlier.

However, the number of 'severely absent' students increased to 2.3% - up from 2.1% the year before.