DfE Attendance and Absence Codes
- / \ - Present: Indicates that the pupil is present at the school. "/" is used for the morning session and "\" for the afternoon session. Pupils are marked as present if they are in school during registration, even if they leave afterwards.
- L - Late Arrival Before the Register Closes: Used when a pupil arrives late but before the register is closed. Schools should discourage lateness and monitor patterns of late arrival.
Attending a Place Other Than the School
- K - Attending Education Provision Arranged by the Local Authority: Used when a pupil is attending educational provision arranged by the local authority at a place other than the school. Examples include attending courses at college or alternative provision like home tutoring.
- V - Attending an Educational Visit or Trip: Indicates that a pupil is attending an educational visit or trip arranged by or on behalf of the school. The activity must be supervised by school staff.
- P - Participating in a Sporting Activity: Used for pupils attending an approved sporting activity. The activity must be educational and supervised by a qualified individual.
- W - Attending Work Experience: Used when a pupil is attending work experience as part of their education. The work experience must be approved and supervised appropriately.
- B - Attending Any Other Approved Educational Activity: Covers other approved educational activities that are not sports or work experience. Examples include attending taster days or courses at another institution.
- D - Dual Registered at Another School: Used for pupils registered at more than one school. This code indicates that the pupil is attending another registered school, such as a pupil referral unit or special school.
- C1 - Leave of Absence for Regulated Performance or Employment Abroad: Indicates authorised leave for participating in a performance or employment abroad with appropriate licensing or exemption.
- M - Leave of Absence for Medical or Dental Appointment: Used when a pupil is absent for a medical or dental appointment. Parents are encouraged to schedule appointments outside school hours where possible.
- J1 - Leave of Absence for Interviews: Used for attending an interview for employment or admission to another educational institution.
- S - Leave of Absence for Studying for a Public Examination: Granted for study leave for public examinations. Schools should ensure provision is available for pupils who wish to revise at school.
- X - Non-Compulsory School Age Pupil Not Required to Attend: Used for pupils who are not of compulsory school age and are not expected to attend school for every session.
- C2 - Leave of Absence for a Part-Time Timetable: Used when a pupil is on a temporary part-time timetable agreed between the school and parents.
- C - Leave of Absence for Exceptional Circumstances: Granted at the school's discretion for exceptional circumstances not covered by other codes, such as family emergencies.
- T - Parent Travelling for Occupational Purposes: Used for pupils travelling with parents engaged in a trade or business that requires them to move frequently.
- R - Religious Observance: Used for absences on days set apart for religious observance by the pupil’s religious body.
- I - Illness: Covers absences due to physical or mental health-related illnesses. Schools may request evidence if the authenticity of the illness is in doubt.
- E - Suspended or Permanently Excluded with No Alternative Provision: Used for pupils suspended or excluded without alternative educational provision made.
Absent - Unable to Attend Due to Unavoidable Cause
- Q - Lack of Access Arrangements: Used when a pupil cannot attend due to a local authority's failure to provide necessary access arrangements.
- Y1 - Transport Not Available: Used when the transport normally provided by the school or local authority is unavailable.
- Y2 - Widespread Disruption to Travel: Used for absences due to local, national, or international travel disruptions.
- Y3 - Part of the School Closed: Used when part of the school premises is closed, and pupils cannot be accommodated.
- Y4 - Whole School Site Unexpectedly Closed: Used for unexpected school closures, such as those caused by adverse weather conditions.
- Y5 - Pupil in Criminal Justice Detention: Used when a pupil is in police detention or youth custody.
- Y6 - Unable to Attend Due to Public Health Guidance or Law: Used when attendance is contrary to public health guidance or prohibited by law.
- Y7 - Any Other Unavoidable Cause: Used for absences due to emergencies or unavoidable causes not covered by other codes.
Unauthorised Absence Codes
- G - Holiday Not Granted by the School: Used for unauthorised holidays taken without the school’s approval.
- N - Reason for Absence Not Yet Established: Used when the reason for absence is unknown. Schools must update this code once the reason is ascertained.
Absent in Other or Unknown Circumstances: Used for absences without an acceptable reason or where the reason given is not satisfactory.
- U - Arrived After Registration Closed: Used when a pupil arrives after the register has closed but before the end of the session.
- Z - Prospective Pupil Not on Admission Register: Used to set up registers in advance for pupils joining the school. It is not used for statistical purposes.
- # - Planned Whole School Closure: Used for planned closures such as holidays, weekends, or INSET days. Not collected for statistical purposes.
