'Majority' of schools hit by virus absences

The majority of secondary s c h o o l s i n E n g l a n d s e nt home at least one pupil because of coronavirus last week, Government figures show.

About 6% to 7% of state school pupils did not attend class for coronavirus-related reasons on October 22, according to the Department for Education (DfE) statistics.

About 26% of schools, excluding those on half-term, said they had one or more pupils self-isolating due to potential contact with a COVD-19 case at school, compared to 21% the week before.

This is 55% of secondary schools and 20% of primary schools.Schoolsonhalf-term last week have been excluded from the analysis.

Overall, school attendance dropped from 89% a week earlier to 86% on October 22, the data suggests.

The DfE says the data is not directly comparable with previous weeks as October 22 figures represent 92% of state schools compared to all schools. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "This analysis paints a grim picture of the increasingly challenging situation facing schools and it is crucial that schools are able to provide disadvantaged pupils with laptops so they can work from home if they have to self-iso

” DfE spokeswoman said: "Over 99% of schools have been open every week since term began and millions of pupils were attendinglastweek,benefitingfrom time with their friends and teachers. Remote education should be provided from the first full school day that a child has to remain at home so they do not fall behind." late.