New figures show the number of children absent from school for Covid-related reasons in England has risen after the emergence of the Omicron variant (Danny Lawson/PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)More than 230,000 children are now out of school due to Covid related reasons, an increase of 13 per cent in a fortnight, new figures show.
An estimated 2.9 per cent of all state school pupils – 236,000 children – are at home because of the virus, up from 208,000 two weeks previously.
The government figures published on Tuesday are a snapshot of attendance on December 9. School leaders said they are already out of date and the true picture in schools is much worse.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of schools leaders’ union NAHT said: “Over the last few days we have heard from our members that there has been a significant jump in Covid cases in schools, amongst both staff and pupils, as the new variant has started to spread. Some have told us that this has been the hardest term of the whole pandemic.”
Today’s figures reveal that 1.3 per cent of pupils – 109,000 children – have a confirmed case of coronavirus, up from 106,000 previously.
And 1.1 per cent of all pupils – 91,000 children -have a suspected case of Coronavirus, up from 79,000 previously.
A total of 12,000 pupils are off because of Covid restrictions at their schools to manage an outbreak, up from 10,000 previously.
Overall attendance in state schools is 88.9 per cent, a drop from 89.3 per cent previously.
Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “It’s no surprise that this set of statistics shows a further increase in pupil and teacher absence because of Covid-19. The situation has clearly been deteriorating through the course of this half term with many schools and colleges experiencing huge disruption.
“The Omicron variant threatens to unleash even more difficulties. The forthcoming Christmas holidays will at least provide a firebreak but there can be little doubt that the spring term will be challenging.”
Today’s figures also estimate that 2.4 per cent of state school teachers and headteachers are absent due to Covid, up from 2 per cent a fortnight ago.
