Latest attendance figures from the Welsh Government show that overall school attendance remains worryingly below pre-pandemic levels.
More than half of the most vulnerable pupils in Wales were persistently absent in 2024/25, up from 30.4% in 2018/19.
Year 11 pupils recorded the lowest attendance, averaging 86.8% in 2024/25 - 6.4 percentage points lower than in 2018/19. This follows the Minister for Education’s pledge to restore attendance to pre-pandemic levels “as soon as possible” and “within this Senedd term.”
Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education, Natasha Asghar MS, said:
“The statistics released today are deeply concerning. Year 11 being the worst-attended year group highlights a worrying trend for pupils during such a crucial stage of their studies.
“Labour’s plans to improve attendance have clearly failed, along with their attempts to improve literacy and behaviour.
“The Welsh Conservatives have a clear plan to restore discipline and respect in order to boost attendance in schools, only the Welsh Conservatives have a credible plan to fix education and fix Wales.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Attendance of pupils in maintained schools: 2 September 2025 to 2 January 2026
- The average attendance for the 2024/25 academic year was 91.1% (r), down from 94.3% in 2018/19. This is a fall in attendance of 3.2 (r) percentage points.
- The average attendance in 2024/25 for pupils eligible for FSM was 85.4% (r), a fall from 91.2% (5.8 (r) percentage points) since 2018/19.
- Average attendance in 2024/25 was lowest amongst pupils in year 11 at 86.8% (r) and highest amongst pupils in year 3 at 93.0% (r). Attendance amongst year 11 pupils is 6.4 (r) percentage points lower than it was in 2018/19. Primary school age groups fell by 1.9 (r) to 2.3 percentage points over the same period.
- The 10% persistent absence threshold was reached by 27.0% (r) of pupils in 2024/25, up from 14.7% in 2018/19.
- 50.7% (r) of pupils eligible for FSM were persistently absent in 2024/25, up from 30.4% in 2018/19.
- Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: Attendance and Behaviour in Schools.
- ‘We’re not waiting ten years’: minister vows to improve school attendance.
