DfE highlights Taylor Swift gig in crackdown on 'one-off' absences

There was a large increase in the number of girls in Years 9 and 10 absent from school on the days after Taylor Swift performed concerts in their city, the Department for Education has revealed today as it looks to crack down on one-off absences.

The government has published new research showing how one-off and annual events can drive absences, amid warnings that these could quietly be costing children weeks of learning.

It comes alongside a new toolkit for schools and a guide to improve communications with parents on attendance.

Analysing attendance rates in Liverpool on the dates after Taylor Swift gigs in 2024, the DfE found a “large increase” in absence for Year 9 and Year 10 girls compared with the same days on the previous and following weeks.

Year 9 and 10 girls were between 2 and 4 percentage points more likely to miss school on the Friday after a concert, and for Year 10 girls there was around a 30 per cent higher absence, the DfE found.

A corresponding increase was not seen for boys in Liverpool. Taylor Swift performed on Thursday 13 June and Friday 14 June. No increase in absence was seen on Thursday 13 June.

One-off events driving pupil absence

Researchers also found a “clear pattern of lower attendance” in local areas where agricultural or county shows were taking place.

Comparing local attendance rates in primary, secondary and special schools on the dates of the Royal Norfolk Show, the DfE found a sharp drop in attendance.

During the show, Year 9 boys’ absence increased the most by 5.1 percentage points - compared with a national increase of less than 1 percentage point on those dates.

Pupils were also more likely to miss a full day if they had a medical appointment, the DfE found. Its analysis shows that when a pupil misses one session for an appointment, around half also miss the other session that day, meaning the absence typically becomes a full day.

The DfE’s new toolkit for schools includes recommended initiatives to help improve attendance, including giving pupils a pass to skip the lunch queue on their birthday, after its research found that children are 55 per cent more likely to miss school on their birthday.

Guidance on communicating with parents

The DfE has also published a communication guide “to complement and enhance the work that schools already do to improve attendance”.

It is based on findings from stakeholder workshops and focus groups involving teachers, school leaders and parents. The DfE has analysed the messaging that it has found works well, and the messaging that does not, and has provided scenario-based tips and principles for schools to use.

Researchers found that messages about “belonging, friendships and daily experience - when grounded in the child’s real experience at school” worked well, while messages that “imply poor parenting, impart blame or prioritise school metrics” did not.

There are also scenario-based examples for schools to learn from in the report, including on the tone to strike and to avoid, and on the use of “gentle nudges”.

When sending a message to nudge parents about attendance, the DfE recommends a “neutral, informative, low-pressure tone”, providing examples of what has been missed or specific offers of help, and avoiding “we know it’s difficult” messages, which it says can be viewed as patronising.

When inviting parents to a meeting, the DfE suggests, schools should avoid enforcement language or threats of escalation.

“Use human language, lead with support and collaboration, show parents you see the reality they live in, be explicit about the small, practical things that make attendance possible and celebrate the successes,” the report notes in its summary.

The findings follow the latest DfE statistics showing that severe absences - where pupils miss 50 per cent or more of academic sessions - reached a record high last year.