Figures this calculator uses
- School days in a year
- 190 (380 sessions)
- Persistent absence
- 10% of sessions or more
- Fine considered (England)
- 10 unauthorised sessions in 10 school weeks
- Fine per parent, per child
- £80, or £160 after 21 days
How attendance is calculated
Attendance is the share of possible sessions a pupil was present for. Schools take a register at the start of the morning and the afternoon, so one school day is two sessions.
Attendance % = (sessions possible − sessions missed) ÷ sessions possible × 100
Each full day off in a 190-day year takes about 0.53 percentage points off the total. Early in the year each day counts for more, because there are fewer possible days to share it over.
Worked example
By February half-term a Year 4 pupil has had 110 possible school days. They were off for 6 days with illness and a week (5 days) on a family holiday. That’s 11 days missed.
- Attendance is (110 − 11) ÷ 110 = 90.0%.
- Missing 10% or more makes them persistently absent, so one more day off would tip them over.
- The holiday on its own was 10 unauthorised sessions within 10 school weeks, which in England meets the threshold for the school to consider a fine.
Days off and the attendance they give over a full year
| Days missed in 190 | Attendance |
|---|---|
| 5 | 97.4% |
| 10 | 94.7% |
| 15 | 92.1% |
| 19 | 90.0% |
| 25 | 86.8% |
| 38 | 80.0% |
If your child is missing school because of illness, anxiety or special educational needs, talk to the school first. Absence the school authorises can still count towards persistent absence, but it won’t lead to a fine.
Questions people ask
How many days off is 90% attendance?
A full school year in England has 190 days (380 morning and afternoon sessions). Missing 19 days in a year gives 90% attendance, which is the line where a pupil counts as persistently absent.
What counts as persistent absence?
The Department for Education counts a pupil as persistently absent if they miss 10% or more of their possible sessions, and severely absent at 50% or more. Both authorised and unauthorised absence count.
When can a school attendance fine be issued in England?
Since 19 August 2024 there is a national threshold: a fine (penalty notice) must be considered once a pupil has 10 sessions of unauthorised absence within a rolling 10 school weeks. That’s the same as 5 school days. The sessions don’t need to be in a row, and a term-time holiday can reach it on its own.
How much is a fine for taking a child out of school?
In England the fine is £80 per parent, per child, if paid within 21 days, rising to £160 if paid within 28 days. A second fine for the same child within three years is £160 with no reduction. A third within three years usually leads to prosecution instead of another fine.
Does a half day count?
Yes. Schools record attendance twice a day, so a morning or afternoon off is one session, which is half a day. You can enter half days in this calculator, such as 2.5.
Are the rules the same in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
No. The 10% persistent absence measure is used widely, but fines and thresholds differ. Scotland does not use fixed penalty fines for attendance. Wales and Northern Ireland have their own guidance, so check with your school or council.