More than 122,000 pupils out of class last week because of the virus

MORE than 122,000 children in England were out of school for Covid-19 related reasons last week, Government figures show.

About nine in 10 pupils were in class on September 16, according to the first analysis of attendance figures since schools fully reopened.

The Department for Education (DfE) estimates 1.5% of all pupils – around 122,300 children – were not in school for Covid-19 related reasons on Thursday last week.

The figures include 59,300 pupils with a confirmed case of Covid-19, 44,600 with a suspected case and 15,900 absent due to isolation for other reasons. A further 2,000 pupils were off due to attendance restrictions being in place to manage an outbreak and 500 did not attend as a result of school closures due to Covid-related reasons.

It comes as schools in England no longer have to keep pupils in year group “bubbles” to reduce mixing and children do not have to isolate if they come into contact with a positive case of Covid-19. Instead, they need to get a PCR test and isolate only if positive.

Headteachers’ unions have warned that educational disruption remains “significant” and some schools are already struggling to keep classes open.

Some 91.9% of students were in class on Thursday last week, according to the DfE analysis. In comparison, approximately 87% of students were in class on September 17 last year.

All secondary school and college pupils have been invited to take two lateral flow tests at school, three to five days apart, in England on their return. Schools and colleges are being encouraged to maintain increased hygiene and ventilation and secondary school and college pupils have been asked to continue to test twice weekly at home.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: “It is clear from the fact that over 100,000 pupils were absent from school last week with a confirmed or suspected case of coronavirus that educational disruption remains significant. We are hearing of schools where significant numbers of pupils are absent. We are hopeful the vaccination programme for 12 to 15-year-olds will help to reduce this level of disruption. However, the Government must also take more action to support schools and colleges.”

The Government should launch a public information campaign to encourage twice-weekly hometesting among pupils and provide funding for high-quality ventilation systems in schools and colleges, the union has said.