What can schools do about record absences?
The pandemic disrupted schooling everywhere. But since then record numbers of children have not returned to regular schooling. Data from the Department for Education show that persistent absence - missing roughly seven days a term - is now at a record high. So is this a blip affecting a Covid cohort or a worrying trend toward a breakdown in the social contract between society and school?
David Aaronovitch talks to:
Branwen Jeffreys, BBC’s Education EditorKatie Beynon, Statistician at FFT Education DatalabSam Freedman, Senior fellow at the Institute for Government Emily Hunt, Associate Director Social Mobility and Vulnerable Learners at the Education Institute Policy
Produced by: Kirsteen Knight, Sam Haque and Claire BowesEdited by: Richard VadonSound engineer: Rod FarquharProduction co-ordinator: Debbie Richford and Sophie Hill.
The Briefing Room
David Aaronovitch and a panel of experts and insiders present in-depth explainers on big issues in the news
- No. of episodes: 346
- Latest episode: 2025-05-15
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