In 2008/09, 9.0 per cent of half-day sessions were missed through authorised and unauthorised absence, no change from 2007/08. 1.7 per cent of half-day sessions were missed through unauthorised absence, a decrease from 1.8 per cent in 2007/08. Girls had a higher rate of overall absenteeism than boys, while the rate of unauthorised absence was the same for both genders. A little over 7,000 pupils (4.0 per cent) had no absence from maintained secondary schools in 2008/09.
