Pupils may be missing school on Fridays as parents 'try to beat holiday traffic'

Our research indicates that Friday absences are more common in weeks leading up to bank holidays or half-term breaks, suggesting that families might be extending their holidays or trying to avoid holiday traffic.

The study used daily level attendance data at local authority level collected by the Department for Education (DfE) from the beginning of the academic year 2022/2023.

The researchers found significantly lower school attendance rates on Fridays across England, with a 20% higher absence rate compared to other days.

Jonathan James, from the Department of Economics at the University of Bath, said: 'We found no evidence to suggest that parents working from home are driving the higher absence rates on Fridays.'

Read at NewsChain