Camden has the highest school absence rate in London, new data has shown. The north London borough recorded an overall absence rate of 7.56% between the autumn and spring term 2025/2026, up from 6.96% in 2023/2024 and 7.48% in 2024/2025.
Top five boroughs for absence
Neighbouring Islington follows with an overall absence rate of 7.15%, down from 7.5% in the last reporting period. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is third at 6.69%, with Hillingdon close behind at 6.68%. Westminster rounds off the top five with a rate of 6.64%.
In comparison, the overall school absence rate in London is on the decline, now standing at 6.04% from 6.14%. However, the percentage of “severe absentees” - those who have missed 50% or more of school sessions - has increased marginally from 1.58% to 1.61%. Camden also has the highest percentage of severe absentees at 2.38%.
Lowest absence rates
The area with the lowest absence rate is the City of London (4.42%), followed by Richmond upon Thames (5.25%) and Kingston upon Thames (5.38%). Kensington and Chelsea showed the biggest improvement in school attendance, down 0.39 percentage points from the last reporting period, despite coming in third for worst overall attendance in 2025/26.
Absence rates are generally on the decline in London, with the city boasting the lowest absence rates across all absence types in all English regions. The overall absence rate in the capital has reduced from 6.14% in the last reporting period to 6.04% today. In comparison, absence rates nationally sit at 6.47% and at 7.13% in the north east of England - the region with the highest percentage.
GCSE pupils most affected
The figures include pupils from state-funded secondary and primary schools, as well as SEN schools. Data has also shown that absence rates are highest among GCSE pupils. Overall absence rates in London were just 5.10% among Year 7 students, increasing to 8.01% for pupils in Year 11. The crunch GCSE years 10 and 11 have absence rates of 7.85% and 8.01% respectively, while pupils in year 9 have an absence rate of 7.28%. It is a marginal decline on last year’s figures, where truancy rates in Year 10 and 11 stood at 7.87% and 8.21% respectively.
It is still a stark contrast to figures in primary school, where the absence rate is no higher than 5.89% in Year 1. Several drivers account for school absences, with illness accounting for roughly half of all missed school sessions. However, the socioeconomic gap continues to widen and is mirrored across London boroughs. Those eligible for free school meals and those with special educational needs continue to face higher absence rates. Children from Irish traveller communities are also skipping school more than their counterparts across all age groups.
Earlier this year, Department of Education data also revealed the London schools with the highest rates of truancy. City of London Academy in Islington recorded the highest absence rate in London (10.6%) and the 25th highest in the country. This was followed by Kemnal Technology College in Bromley (9.5%) and Shirley High School Performing Arts College in Croydon (8.9%).
