More at school since start of pandemic

More than 90% pupils attended school last week – but a growing number were selfisolating at home due to possible contact with Covid-19 cases, new figures show.

The Department for Education (DfE) data shows attendance in state schools in England last week was the highest it has been at any point during the pandemic – but the data suggests that 169,000 pupils were out of class and self-isolating on Thursday due to potential contact with a case of coronavirus.

The DfE estimates that approximately 2% of all state school pupils on roll – up to 201,000 children – did not attend school for Covid-19 related reasons on March 18, up from 1% on March 11.

Overall, attendance was 91% on March 18 but attendance in primary schools fell to 93% on the previous week.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "It is inevitable that there will be positive cases and close contacts having to self-isolate in line with Covid protocols.

"As we have warned previously, this sort of disruption is likely to be a feature of school life for a while to come yet."

A DfE spokeswoman said: "Attendance in schools is now the highest it has been at any point during the pandemic as students and staff continue to follow our guidance to reduce transmission of the virus.

"As secondary students, all school staff, and parents and carers of all children continue testing twiceweekly from home, we encourage everyone to keep playing their part, testing themselves regularly to keep everyone as safe as possible."