Almost three in four secondary schools began face-to-face support for year 10 and 12 pupils last week, while almost nine in ten primary schools had reopened more widely.
The latest attendance data from the Department for Education shows 89 per cent of schools normally open to reception, year 1 and year 6 pupils had reopened to at least one of those year groups as of last Thursday, June 25, up from 78 per cent the week before.
And 74 per cent of secondary schools were open to year 10 or year 12 pupils last Thursday, up from 60 per cent the previous week.
The government asked primary schools to reopen to reception, year 1 and year 6 pupils from June 1, while secondaries were asked to begin face-to-face support of year 10 and 12s from June 15, albeit with only up to 25 per cent of pupils in at any one time.
Attendance up in all year groups
The latest data shows that 39.5 per cent of reception pupils, 37.1 per cent of year 1 pupils and 44.5 per cent of year 6 pupils attended open settings last Thursday, up from 35.8 per cent, 32.8 per cent and 41.6 per cent respectively on June 18.
And at secondary level, 15.7 per cent of year 10s and 15.2 per cent of year 12s were in attendance in open schools on Thursday, up from 15 per cent and 13.8 per cent the week before.
However, these figures represent open schools only.
Once the figures are adjusted to take account of the whole pupil population, the government estimates that 36.3 per cent of reception, 34.1 per cent of year 1 and 41 per cent of year 6 pupils were in school last Thursday.
And based on the total pupil population, 13 per cent of year 10s and 12.6 per cent of year 12s were in on the same date.
Education secretary welcomes return of ‘1.5m pupils’
Overall, it is estimated that 1,483,000 pupils, 15.6 per cent of the total pupil population, were attending schools and colleges on June 25, up from 12.2 per cent on June 18.
Education secretary Gavin Williamson said: “Each week the number of children returning to school has increased. Last week, 1.5 million pupils were back with their friends and teachers at schools and colleges, more than double the number at the beginning of the month.
“As we approach the summer holidays, I want to see as many children and young people as possible return to classrooms, and would encourage families to take up the opportunity of a school place if they are able to, ahead of a full return for all pupils in September.”
The data also shows a continuing rise in the number of school staff attending school. As of last Thursday, there were 261,000 teaching and 356,000 non-teaching staff in schools, up from 240,000 and 327,000 respectively on June 18.
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