New government figures have revealed that several secondary schools in the Midlands have some of the worst unauthorised absence rates in the country. The data, covering the 2024/25 academic year, highlights schools where pupils missed class without a valid reason.
Top 10 Worst School
Waverley Studio College in Birmingham ranked 10th nationally with an unauthorised absence rate of 11.6%. The school, located in Bordesley Green, caters to students aged 14 to 19. Just behind, Alvaston Moor Academy in Derby placed 11th with 11.5%.
Other Midlands Schools in the Top 100
Shire Oak Academy in Walsall was listed 29th nationally at 10.1%. The school was previously considered one of the worst in the West Midlands for behaviour and attendance, but leaders say progress has been made. Nuneaton Academy ranked 50th with 9.1%. Other schools in the top 100 include Star King Solomon in Birmingham (70th, 8.7%), Ormiston Horizon Academy in Stoke-on-Trent (78th, 8.5%), Nottingham University Samworth Academy (87th, 8.3%), and The Bullwell Academy in Nottingham (98th, 8.1%).
Nationally, Fir Vale Academy in Sheffield had the highest truancy rate at 17.1%. Overall, unauthorised absences fell for the second consecutive year. Pupils at state-funded secondaries in England missed the equivalent of about one in 12 days due to unauthorised absences, a rate of 8.4%, down from 8.9% in 2023/24 and 9.0% in the two previous years.
Ofsted is expected to require headteachers to address this issue urgently.
