Rise in School Absence Since Lockdown Will Persist, Report Suggests

School absence rates in the UK doubled from pre-2020 levels as a “knock-on effect” of school closures and other lockdown restrictions, a new report has found, with lower attendance rates likely to persist for years. The higher absence rate is likely to remain a feature until the generation of pupils impacted directly by the COVID-19 policies finishes secondary school, the research from the London School of Economics (LSE) suggests. The report was released to coincide with a UK COVID-19 Inquiry preliminary hearing on Friday to examine the impact of lockdowns and restrictions on children and young people, including the effect on their education....