The most recent data for the 2023/24 cohort shows that 31.5% of secondary school pupils - almost one in three - youngsters in the city’s secondary schools were classed as persistently absent.
This compares to 25.6% of pupils in all state-funded England secondary schools. Persistent absence is those pupils missing 10% or more of the mornings or afternoons they could attend.
School absence is one of the biggest contributory factors in determining pupil attainment in their GCSEs. The most recent Government report (2025) showed pupils with attendance rates of 95% to 100% are three times more likely to achieve a grade 5 or above (old grade C) in English and maths compared to persistently absent pupils who only attend 85% to 90% of the time.
Even within the city’s secondary schools there is a wide disparity in persistent absence rates, ranging between 43% and 22.4%.
Check out the persistent absence rate for your son or daughter’s secondary school. The list does not include the city’s special schools.
5. Sandhill View Academy
Sandhill View Academy had a persistent absence rate of 35% which is above the local authority average of 31.5% and the England average of 25.6%. | Google Photo: Sandhill View Academy
6. Red House Academy
Red House Academy had a persistent absence rate of 34.6% which is above the local authority average of 31.5% and the England average of 25.6%. | National World Photo: National World
7. Biddick Academy
Biddick Academy had a persistent absence rate of 33.6% which is above the local authority average of 31.5% and the England average of 25.6%. | Google
8. Thornhill Academy
Thornhill Academy had a persistent absence rate of 33.4% which is above the local authority average of 31.5% and the national average of 25.6%. | Google