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Almost 200,000 kids miss a day of school each fortnight

Nearly 200,000 Scottish pupils missed a day of school each fortnight last year, the Scottish Conservatives can reveal today.

Shadow education secretary Miles Briggs has described the figures – which have been highlighted as pupils across Scotland prepare to return to the classroom today after the festive break – as “deeply alarming”.

Responses to the party from a series of Freedom of Information requests to councils reveal that 184,845 primary and secondary school pupils were absent from school for at least a day in each two-week period. The figure is likely to be even higher as three councils did not respond to the requests for information.

The FOI responses also reveal that at least 70,000 pupils missed a day of school each week.

Miles Briggs has accused SNP ministers of “being asleep at the wheel” while this “crisis” was growing and says they have failed to act while more and more pupils are missing learning time in the classroom.

He added that the figures must be an “urgent wake-up call” for SNP ministers to “do all they can” to get kids back into the classroom.

Scottish Conservative shadow education secretary Miles Briggs MSP said: “These figures are deeply alarming and point to a growing trend of many children simply not turning up for school.

“SNP ministers have been asleep at the wheel while this crisis has escalated. We know that the best place for pupils to learn is in the classroom but soaring numbers are now absent for at least a day every fortnight.

“That will be having a hugely detrimental impact on their progress and their wellbeing.

“The true figures are likely to be even higher as not all of Scotland’s councils provided figures. SNP ministers have failed to act as violence has spiralled out of control in our schools, meaning many pupils feel unsafe in the classroom.

“These shocking figures must be an urgent wake-up call for SNP ministers to do everything they can to encourage pupils back into the classroom in the year ahead.”

Notes:

In 2023-2024 there were 185,000 primary and secondary children absent for 10% of the school year. Freedom of information requests reveal that 184,845 primary and secondary pupils missed 10% of the school year. This figure is likely to be higher as West Lothian, Renfrewshire and Clackmannanshire did not respond. (Freedom of information requests available on request).  

In 2023-2024 there were 72,000 primary and secondary children absent for 20% of the school year. Freedom of information requests reveal that 71,852 primary and secondary pupils missed 20% of the school year. This figure is likely to be higher as West Lothian, Renfrewshire and Clackmannanshire did not respond. (Freedom of information requests available on request).