1.1. This document contains the results of the attendance and absence survey for 2007/08. Information relates to local authority and mainstream grant aided schools only.
Note on interpretation of data
1.2. The data in this publication reports the recorded information on pupils' attendance and absence. However, these records are affected by ongoing differences in recording procedures across local authorities and over time. This effects all previous years of data as well and means that comparisons between local authorities and over time for certain absence reasons, sickness and truancy in particular, are not reliable. However comparisons of overall attendance, combined authorised and unauthorised absence and temporary exclusions are still comparable across local authorities and over time.
1.3. As stated in previous years, the data suggest that several local authorities use "other authorised absence" as the initial default for absence, with the resulting danger that unexplained absence goes unrecorded. In 2007/08 there were still four authorities (Argyll and Bute, Glasgow City, Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire) who reported high rates of "other authorised absence", where analysis of the data suggests that much of this absence is likely to be either sickness or truancy. Although these authorities gave assurances that measures were in place for 2007/08 to correct these differences, this is not evident from the figures. This year, East Renfrewshire and especially Inverclyde and North Ayrshire have improved on the recording of "other authorised absence" compared with earlier years.
1.4. The four authorities with high rates of "other authorised absence" heavily affect both the national figures on reasons for absence and the ability to compare those figures between local authorities. Due to these ongoing concerns over the quality and consistency in the recording of the reasons for absence, we have amalgamated the information on absence so that only overall absence rates are shown in the main part of the publication. Tables showing the breakdowns by absence reason have been included in Annex C, however, these figures are not considered to be of National Statistics quality; should be treated with caution and are being provided for information only.
1.5. Furthermore, individual local authorities may have progressively implemented the guidance on the recording of reasons for absence creating a further problem with year on year comparisons of absence reasons on national level as well as comparisons between local authorities. The tables in Annex C, both at national and authority level, particularly those for sickness, other authorised absence and truancy are therefore inconsistent and unreliable. However, overall attendance and absence figures are not affected and are given in the main part of the publication. The inconsistencies mentioned before will also affect the summary absence information used in school handbooks and the Scottish Schools Online website.
1.6. The Scottish Government guidance also states that family holidays during term time should only be authorised under exceptional circumstances. Although there are still a large number of authorised holidays some local authorities have made noticeable improvements in their implementation of the guidance.
Summary information for 2007/08
2.1. The overall rate of attendance was 93.2 per cent, virtually unchanged from 93.3 per cent in 2006/07.
2.2. The rate of attendance for primary schools was 95.1 per cent (95.3 per cent in 2006/07). The rate for secondary schools was 90.9 per cent (90.6 per cent in 2006/07). The rate for special schools was 91.2 per cent (91.2 per cent in 2006/07).
2.3. As in previous years, attendance at stages P1 to P7 was fairly stable, ranging from 95.3 per cent to 94.8 per cent. It then decreased steadily through to S4 (89.2 per cent), before increasing slightly in S5 and S6. Overall there was little difference in rates between boys and girls. However, boys did have noticeably better attendance rates from S4 to S6.
2.4. Eighty one per cent of pupils had an attendance rate of 90 per cent or above. About 35,000 pupils (five per cent) had a 100 per cent attendance record. As last year, these figures only include pupils when they attended a school for more than half of the school year. The proportion of pupils with a 100 per cent attendance record has decreased slightly.
Punctuality
3.1. Pupils were recorded late on 1.6 per cent of openings. Of these 98 per cent were recorded as arriving during the first half of the morning or afternoon.
3.2. As in 2006/07, there was a sharp increase in recorded lateness between P7 and S1, reaching a peak in S4. Boys continue to be late more often than girls in secondary.
Summary absence information
4.1. Absence (authorised and unauthorised) in primary schools was 4.9 per cent, in secondary schools it was 8.9 per cent, and in special schools 8.4 per cent.
4.2. Absence from school due to temporary exclusion accounted for 0.1 per cent of days, as in the previous three years. Absence due to temporary exclusion in primary schools was 0.02 per cent, in secondary schools it was 0.19 per cent, and in special schools it was 0.36 per cent.
4.3. As in 2006/07, per pupil, the average total absence in primary schools was just under two school weeks (19 half days), out of a possible 38 school weeks; in secondary schools it was three and a half school weeks, (35 half days) and in special schools the figure was slightly under three and a half school weeks (33 half days) out of a possible 38 school weeks.
Analysis of absence
5.1. On average, each day there were around 45,000 pupils absent (seven per cent), of which about 660 were temporarily excluded.
5.2. Absence due to temporary exclusion was higher amongst boys.
5.3. Pupils living in urban areas were absent more often than those in rural areas.
5.4. In general, pupils living in areas with higher levels of deprivation had higher levels of absence, with the effect being greater in secondary school. Pupils living in areas associated with most deprivation (based on lowest five per cent of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation ( SIMD)) were on average 14 days more absent than pupils living in areas associated with least deprivation (based on highest five per cent of the SIMD).
5.5. Pupils with Additional Support Needs in mainstream schools were on average absent for five days more than other pupils in those schools, with the difference being greater in secondary school. Of these, pupils with social and emotional behavioural difficulty have the highest rate of absence.
5.6. Children looked after by local authorities were on average absent for 10 days more than other pupils, with those looked after at home missing on average just above six weeks of school.
5.7. Attendance rates varied across the different ethnic groups, from 96 per cent among Asian Chinese to 77 per cent among Gypsy travellers.
5.8. Pupils who were assessed and/or declared as having a disability had lower attendance rates (92 per cent) than other pupils (93 per cent).
5.9. Attendance rates varied by the extent to which English was an additional language. Pupils who were new to English (89 per cent) had lower attendance rates than pupils who were fluent in English (93 per cent).
Local authority analysis.
6.1. The percentage attendance in primary schools by local authority ranged from 93.1 per cent (Glasgow City) to 96.5 per cent (East Renfrewshire), and in secondary schools from 88.4 per cent (Glasgow City) to 94.7 per cent (East Renfrewshire). The range in attendance rates reflects the differing prevalence of risk factors, as previously identified, found in local authority populations.