Startling new figures from the Department for Education (DFE) have revealed that more than 24,000 children across England are not registered at any school, with Lincolnshire emerging as one of the worst-affected areas.
The Scale of the Problem
According to the latest data, an estimated 24,131 children were missing from school rolls in 2022/23 – a significant increase from previous years. This troubling trend has raised serious concerns among education experts and child welfare advocates.
Regional Disparities
The situation appears particularly acute in Lincolnshire, where local authorities reported 1,098 children not on any school register. Other affected areas include:
- Kent: 1,083 children
- Birmingham: 1,002 children
- Essex: 917 children
Potential Causes
Education specialists suggest several factors may be contributing to this crisis:
- Families moving between local authority areas
- Increasing numbers of children being home-educated
- Administrative delays in school registration
- Possible safeguarding issues
Government Response
A DFE spokesperson stated: "We're working closely with local authorities to improve tracking of children's education and ensure no child slips through the net." However, critics argue more urgent action is needed to address this growing problem.
The figures come as the government faces increasing pressure to reform how children's education is monitored across local authority boundaries.
