The DfE are introducing new attendance codes as of the 19th August 2024. This article will explain the changes that have been made and a list of the now active attendance codes and what they mean.
The DfE advises schools to refer to: Working Together improve school attendance. Please seek advice from your Local Authority, or the DfE, regarding attendance codes if required.
Changes as of 19th August
Codes requiring a mandatory note
Codes B, K and Y7 are required to have a note against the attendance code.
These codes will be highlighted in manage register if they don't have a note saved to alert you that a note will need to be added.
We are adding a new section in daily check to show codes entered on the current day that require a note.
The notes page (Register > Notes) has a new button to show all codes entered in the current academic year that require a note.
Archived codes
H - Authorised absence due to agreed family holiday
J - Approved educational activity as pupil is attending an interview
Y - Unable to attend due to exceptional circumstances - not counted in possible attendances
New codes
C1 - Leave of absence for the purpose of participating in a regulated performance or undertaking regulated employment abroad
C2 - Leave of absence for a compulsory school age pupil subject to a part-time timetable
J1 - Leave of absence for the purpose of attending an interview for employment or for admission to another educational institution
K - Attending education provision arranged by the local authority
Q - Unable to attend the school because of a lack of access arrangements
Y1 - Unable to attend due to transport normally provided not being available
Y2 - Unable to attend due to widespread disruption to travel
Y3 - Unable to attend due to part of the school premises being closed
Y4 - Unable to attend due to the whole school site being unexpectedly closed
Y5 - Unable to attend as pupil is in criminal justice detention
Y6 - Unable to attend in accordance with public health guidance or law
Y7 - Unable to attend because of any other unavoidable cause
Preventing users from entering invalid codes
Teacher registers will no longer allow users to enter archived codes. You can determine if teachers have access to all the codes by going to Admin > Config > Register Config > Show all codes, with the exception of the new Y codes.
Manage Register will load up attendance codes based on the date that has been selected. If you edit a code entered before 19th August 2024, the old list of codes will be available. After this, archived codes will not be available for selection.
Possible attendance codes and what they mean
Colour Key
| Colour | Description |
| Present | |
| Authorised Absence | |
| Approved Educational Activity - Counted as Present | |
| Unauthorised Absence | |
| Not Counted in Attendance Calculations |
Attendance codes
| Register Code | Description |
| / | Present AM |
| \ | Present PM |
| L | Late (before registers closed) marked as present |
| K | Attending education provision arranged by the local authority |
| C | Authorised absence as pupil is absent due to other authorised circumstances |
| C1 | Leave of absence for the purpose of participating in a regulated performance or undertaking regulated employment abroad. |
| C2 | Leave of absence for a compulsory school age pupil subject to a part-time timetable |
| E | Authorised absence as pupil is excluded, with no alternative provision made |
| I | Illness (NOT appointments) |
| M | Authorised absence due to medical/dental appointments |
| R | Authorised absence due to religious observance |
| S | Authorised absence due to study leave |
| T | Authorised absence due to traveller absence |
| J1 | Leave of absence for the purpose of attending an interview for employment or for admission to another educational institution |
| B | Approved education activity as pupil being educated off site (NOT dual registration) |
| P | Approved educational activity as pupil is attending an approved sporting activity |
| V | Approved education activity as pupil is away on an educational visit or trip |
| W | Approved educational activity as pupil is attending work experience |
| K | Attending education provision arranged by the local authority |
| G | Unauthorised absence as pupil is on a family holiday, NOT agreed, or is taking days in excess of an agreed family holiday |
| N | Unauthorised absence as pupil missed sessions for a reason that has not yet been provided |
| O | Unauthorised absence as pupil missed sessions for an unauthorised absence not covered by any other code/description |
| U | Unauthorised absence as pupil arrived after registers closed |
| D | Dual registered (at another establishment - NOT counted in possible attendance |
| X |
Not required to be in school - for non-compulsory school age children |
| Y | Unable to attend due to exceptional circumstances - not counted in possible attendances |
| Z | Pupil not yet on roll - not counted in possible attendances |
| # | Planned whole or partial school closure - NOT counted in possible attendances |
| Q | Unable to attend the school because of a lack of access arrangements |
| Y1 | Unable to attend due to transport normally provided not being available |
| Y2 | Unable to attend due to widespread disruption to travel |
| Y3 | Unable to attend due to part of the school premises being closed |
| Y4 | Unable to attend due to the whole school site being unexpectedly closed |
| Y5 | Unable to attend as pupil is in criminal justice detention |
| Y6 | Unable to attend in accordance with public health guidance or law |
| Y7 | Unable to attend because of any other unavoidable cause |