About this event

This research investigates the prevalence of children missing from education in England. Using a novel methodology comparing GP and school registrations, the researchers estimate that up to 400,000 children were not in school in 2023, a 53% increase from 2017. After accounting for formally registered home-educated children, an estimated 305,000 children were missing from education in 2023, a 41% increase from 2017. The report also reveals that over 50,000 pupils leave the English education system during primary or secondary phases and are not registered in mainstream schools, alternative provision, or the independent sector by Year 11. There are significant inequalities between pupil groups who go missing from the education system, with Traveller, Gypsy or Roma, persistently disadvantaged, and permanently excluded pupils at significantly increased risk. The researchers call on the government to build on existing plans to establish a register of children not in schools by linking records across education, health and local authority datasets, and to require schools to record reasons for pupil removals. This report also underscores the urgent need for targeted funding and interventions to support the learning and wellbeing of pupils at risk of disengagement from education.