Education

Attendance, attainment, school capacity, further education and skills.

tracked measures

source systems

Headline measures

School attendance

92.3%

2014/152025/26

+0.4pp2025/26 to date

Persistent absence

18.4%

2013/142024/25

−1.1pp2024/25

School pupils

8.9m

Feb 2025Jan 2026

−112kJanuary 2026

Explore the detail

Participation, attendance, attainment and skills are shown as distinct outcomes across the education system.

More indicators

2 measures

Young people NEET

12.8%

Q2 2023Q1 2026

−0.4ppQ1 2026

Apprenticeship starts

356k

2014/152025/26

+2.7%2025/26 to date

Schools and pupils

2 measures

Schools

24,499

2024/252025/26

+20 yr/yr2025/26

Independent school pupils

560,300

2024/252025/26

−3.8% yr/yr2025/26

Access and disadvantage

1 measure

Pupils eligible for free school meals

26.5%

2024/252025/26

+0.8pp yr/yr2025/26

Class sizes

3 measures

Average infant class size

25.9

2024/252025/26

−0.3 yr/yr2025/26

Average primary class size

26.1

2024/252025/26

−0.3 yr/yr2025/26

Average secondary class size

22.6

2024/252025/26

+0.1 yr/yr2025/26

Special educational needs

1 measure

Pupils in special schools

178,000

2024/252025/26

+4.8% yr/yr2025/26

School structure

1 measure

Pupils attending academies

60.4%

January 2026January 2026

latest censusJanuary 2026

School workforce

2 measures

Primary pupils per teacher

20.7

20252025

slightly lower yr/yr2025

Secondary pupils per teacher

16.7

20252025

unchanged yr/yr2025

Funding

1 measure

School funding per pupil

£8,580

2010/112026/27

+65% since 2010/11 cash terms2026/27

Attainment

1 measure

Key stage 2 science standard

82%

20252026

unchanged yr/yr2026

Most measures cover England because education is devolved. Comparable UK totals are not always available. Every card links directly to its publishing organisation.

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