SEND and school attendance
Persistent absence means a pupil has missed at least one in ten possible school sessions. The phase-specific figures below should not be compared with an all-school rate. Southampton City Council is responsible for its local EHCP process.
What the evidence says
Schools · city council
16.5%
Primary persistent absence
School-location measure. Persistent absence means missing at least 10% of possible sessions.
Southampton Data Observatory / DfE · 2023/24
Checked 3 October 202614.6%
England: primary persistent absence
Same school phase and reporting period.
Southampton Data Observatory / DfE · 2023/24
Checked 3 October 202629.2%
Secondary persistent absence
School-location measure. Persistent absence means missing at least 10% of possible sessions.
Southampton Data Observatory / DfE · 2023/24
Checked 3 October 202625.6%
England: secondary persistent absence
Same school phase and reporting period.
Southampton Data Observatory / DfE · 2023/24
Checked 3 October 202641.9
Average Attainment 8 score
School-location measure. DfE outcomes as reported by Southampton Data Observatory.
Southampton Data Observatory / DfE · 2025
Checked 3 October 2026Who can help?
Southampton City Council
Schools, SEND and social care
Start with your school for day-to-day support. Southampton’s children and families service provides admissions, SEND, EHCP and social-care information.
Open official service → More helpCheck the detail
| Measure | Southampton / area | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary persistent absence | 16.5% % of pupils · Southampton | 2023/24 | Southampton Data Observatory / DfE |
| England: primary persistent absence | 14.6% % of pupils · England | 2023/24 | Southampton Data Observatory / DfE |
| Secondary persistent absence | 29.2% % of pupils · Southampton | 2023/24 | Southampton Data Observatory / DfE |
| England: secondary persistent absence | 25.6% % of pupils · England | 2023/24 | Southampton Data Observatory / DfE |
| Average Attainment 8 score | 41.9 points · Southampton | 2025 | Southampton Data Observatory / DfE |