The government plans AI to set minimum attendance targets for schools to meet this year in the latest bid to crackdown on absence. The targets will not be published, nor shared with Ofsted. But schools that fail to meet the new attendance expectations will be referred for support through regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) teams.

The target will be set through an AI-generated report considering things like location, pupil needs and deprivation levels. Government said, “progress will be interpreted thoughtfully given attendance levels can sometimes be hit by local ‘shocks’.”

General secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders Pepe Di’lasio said many factors are contributing to absence are beyond school control, adding: “Setting them individual targets doesn’t resolve those issues, but it does pile yet more pressure on school leaders and staff who are already under great strain”