England to assign individual attendance targets to every state school, DfE announces

The Department for Education confirmed that every mainstream state school in England will receive a customized attendance target, designed to account for local circumstances. This follows data showing the national attendance rate fell to roughly 93% for 2025/26 and that the share of pupils missing at least 10% of sessions doubled to 19% since the pandemic. Education minister Paul Waugh highlighted Friday absenteeism as a particular weakness and urged schools to offer engaging clubs to keep pupils present.

While Ofsted already reviews attendance in inspections, the DfE will monitor the new targets without imposing immediate penalties, instead offering support and best-practice advice to under-performing schools. The move also promises new data tools to help schools spot early attendance concerns, especially among pupils on free school meals or with SEND needs. Union leader Paul Whiteman cautioned that attendance issues stem from broader social factors and stressed the need for wider reforms.