Question follow-through · 22414

Pupils: Absenteeism

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve rates of persistent absence among pupils in state-funded (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) special schools.

answeredDepartment for Education

About this written question

A written question asks a government minister for information in writing. Parliament publishes the question and any answer.

Answering body
Department for Education
Tabled
7 Jan 2025
Target answer date
9 Jan 2025
Answer
15 Jan 2025 · 8 calendar days after tabling

Elapsed calendar days describe the record timeline, not whether Parliament considers an answer on time.

More questions by this MP on Education and skills

Shared topic keywords suggest a connection; they do not establish a follow-up.

Recorded timeline

  1. 7 Jan 2025

    Question tabled

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve rates of persistent absence among pupils in state-funded (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) special schools.

  2. 9 Jan 2025

    Target answer date

    Date supplied by the official written-questions record.

  3. 15 Jan 2025

    Answer published

    This government is determined to tackle the generational challenge of school absence, which is a fundamental barrier to learning and life chances. Missing school regularly is harmful to a child’s attainment, safety and physical and mental health, which li...

Open official record

Official data retrieved 28 Sept 2026.

Later records

Possible follow-up questions

Strong links require the same MP, department and exact heading. Other same-department questions are shown as unreviewed candidates, not as confirmed follow-ups. No debate link is asserted unless a stable source relationship exists.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Apprentices: Finance

29 Jan 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions her Department has had with Skills England on potential changes to the funding of apprenticeships.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Swimming: Primary Education

4 Jun 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the number of schools which do not meet their statutory duty to teach swimming and water safety during (a) Key Stage 1 and (b) Key Stage 2.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Pupil Premium: Eligibility

30 Jun 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether children who become eligible for free school meals in 2026 will also be eligible for pupil premium funding.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Special Educational Needs

16 Sept 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Children and Families Act 2014 section 37, whether her Department has sought legal advice on the legal right to special educational provision.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Pupils: Vocational Guidance

18 Dec 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of careers advice and post-16 employment support provided by secondary schools to pupils who do not intend to follow a further education or college route.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

School Leaving

18 Dec 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help ensure that 16 to 18-year-olds leave school with access to employment, apprenticeships or training opportunities.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Teachers: Labour Turnover

10 Mar 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department are taking to improve teacher retention; and whether her Department plans to publish a teacher retention strategy.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

School Meals: Nutrition

8 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to update the Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014 in line with current dietary advice.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

School Meals: Nutrition

8 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support schools to provide nutritious school meals.