There are different factors that can impact a school’s absence rate, including illness, term-time holidays and truancy.
The Government’s absence and attendance figures for the full 2023/24 school year have been revealed.
Figures from the Department for Education show the rate of pupils absent from 10 per cent or more of possible sessions in Calderdale was 20.5 per cent in the 2023-24 academic year – down from 21.5 per cent the year before.
Meanwhile, 1.9 per cent were "severely absent", missing 50% or more of sessions. Each day has two sessions, morning and afternoon.
Across England, the rate of persistently absent students improved slightly from 21.2 per cent in 2022-23 to 20 per cent last year.
However, 2.3 per cent were severely absent across the country – the highest level since records began in 2006-07.
We’ve taken a closer look at the secondary schools across Calderdale - excluding private and special schools - to see how they measure up when it comes to absences.
Here’s how they fared, from those with the lowest absence rates, to the highest:
1. North Halifax Grammar School
In the 2023/24 school year, it had an overall absence rate of 6.1%, 5.4% authorised and 0.7% unauthorised. Photo: Bruce Fitzgerald
2. The Crossley Heath School
In the 2023/24 school year, it had an overall absence rate of 6.2%, 5.3% authorised and 0.9% unauthorised. Photo: Google Street View
3. Brighouse High School
In the 2023/24 school year, it had an overall absence rate of 6.8%, 4.8% authorised and 2.1% unauthorised. Photo: Jim Fitton
4. Trinity Academy Halifax
In the 2023/24 school year, it had an overall absence rate of 6.9%, 3.4% authorised and 3.6% unauthorised. Photo: Charles Round