Number of children out of class at its highest since schools fully reopened in March, data shows
The number of pupils absent from schools in England for Covid-related reasons is at its highest since schools fully reopened in March, with almost 840,000 children out of class last week, according to official government data.
Absence rates jumped to 11.2%, more than doubling in a fortnight, with the vast majority of pupils being sent home to self-isolate, though suspected and confirmed cases of Covid were also up.
