Nearly one in five school sessions in England were missed at the height of the heatwave last month, marking the highest absence rate recorded in this academic year, according to data released by the Department for Education (DfE). On June 26, the day temperatures reached a peak of 37.7 degrees Celsius and a red weather warning for extreme heat was in effect across parts of the country, the absence rate stood at an estimated 18.4 percent.
The absence rate reflects the proportion of school time missed in state schools, with one session corresponding to half a school day. During the week of the heatwave, absence rates increased steadily, starting at 6.8 percent on June 22 and rising to 7.4 percent on June 23, 12.6 percent on June 24, and 16.2 percent on June 25. This sharp rise in absences coincided with extreme weather conditions that prompted safety concerns.
More than 1,000 schools across England either closed entirely or partially on June 24 and 25, with many citing the red heat warnings and challenges posed by unventilated classrooms and unsafe travel conditions. Some schools noted the lack of air conditioning as a key factor in their decision to shut down.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson urged parents to send children to school whenever premises remained open, stressing that “every day of absence and lesson missed has a cost.” The overall absence figure of 18.4 percent on June 26 includes both authorised and unauthorised absences, with authorised absences—where pupils have permission not to attend—accounting for 11.4 percent, and unauthorised absences representing 7 percent.
Breakdowns by school type revealed variation in absence rates, with primary schools recording a 17.4 percent rate, secondary schools 19.3 percent, and special schools 32.5 percent on the day of peak heat.
The data reflects the difficulties schools faced in maintaining regular attendance amid unprecedented temperatures and highlights the challenges of balancing pupil safety with educational continuity during extreme weather events.