Education Sector: News In Brief - August 2026

Here's our round-up of education sector news for August 2026.

Heatwaves and illness contribute to rise in school absence

School attendance in England fell slightly during the 2025-26 academic year, with new figures(Opens in a new tab) showing a small rise in both overall and persistent absence. Department for Education data shows overall absence across state schools rose to 6.93%, while persistent absence increased to 19.05%.

The summer term saw the highest levels of absence, particularly during the late June heatwave. During the week beginning 22 June, absence rates climbed to around 11.8%, the highest recorded during the academic year, as exceptionally high temperatures affected schools across the country.