The instructions on this page were different in the following release(s):
3.88 | 3.86 | 3.82
Code Definition
Release Note for Summer 2026 (3.89)
New multiple character codes added (WALES ONLY)
Attendance Codes are set by the Department for Education (DfE). They cannot be deleted and new ones cannot be created, however they can be edited.
The default attendance codes are used during analysis for England (locale 1). For Wales (locale 3), the system uses a set of imported codes from each school and bases the analysis on these codes.
Student attendance information is imported as follows:
- Detailed student level attendance information is imported via B2B: Student and XML Data Exchange.
- Detailed and summary student attendance information is imported via CTF.
- Summary level student attendance information is imported via School Census.
To manage attendance codes:
- Go to v4 client | Tools | Administration | Attendance | Attendance Code Definition.
- Highlight a code and click Open in New Window.
- Amend details as required.
The following is a list of the codes that are used to indicate attendance or type of absence, with Statistical and Physical meanings. The Statistical Meaning is used to group attendance marks for reporting purposes.
The Code is read-only. Schools have the ability to change any or all of the Description, Statistical Meaning or
Physical Meaning for all attendance codes.
England
| External Code | Internal Code | Description | Meaning | Statistical Meaning |
| / | / | Present (AM) | Pupil present | Present |
| \ | \ | Present (PM) | Pupil present | Present |
| L | L | Late before register closes | Present but late | Present |
| B | B | Attending other approved educational activity | Off-site approved activity | Present |
| C | C | Leave of absence for exceptional circumstances | Authorised absence | Authorised Absence |
| C1 | < | Regulated performance / employment leave | Approved exceptional circumstance | Authorised Absence |
| C2 | > | Part-time timetable | Approved exceptional circumstance | Authorised Absence |
| D | D | Dual registered at another school | Attending another setting | Not Required to Attend |
| E | E | Suspended or permanently excluded | No alternative provision available | Authorised Absence |
| G | G | Holiday not granted | Unauthorised holiday | Unauthorised Absence |
| I | I | Illness | Illness-related absence | Authorised Absence |
| J1 | ? | Interview for employment or admission | Approved interview | Authorised Absence |
| K | K | Attending education provision arranged by the LA | Alternative provision | Present |
| L | L | Late before register closes | Present but late | Present |
| M | M | Medical or dental appointment | Healthcare appointment | Authorised Absence |
| N | N | Reason not yet established | Awaiting reason | Unauthorised Absence |
| O | O | Absent in other or unknown circumstances | Unauthorised absence | Unauthorised Absence |
| P | P | Sporting activity | Approved sporting activity | Present |
| Q | Q | Unable to attend due to access arrangements | Accessibility issue | Not Required to Attend |
| R | R | Religious observance | Religious festival/observance | Authorised Absence |
| S | S | Study leave | Examination study leave | Authorised Absence |
| T | T | Parent travelling for occupational purposes | Traveller absence | Authorised Absence |
| U | U | Arrived after register closed | Late and counted absent | Unauthorised Absence |
| V | V | Educational visit or trip | School-organised visit | Present |
| W | W | Work experience | Approved placement | Present |
| X | X | Non-compulsory school-age pupil not required to attend | Session not required | Not Required to Attend |
| Y1 | $ | Transport normally provided unavailable | Transport issue | Not Required to Attend |
| Y2 | a | Widespread disruption to travel | Travel disruption | Not Required to Attend |
| Y3 | % | Part of school premises closed | Partial closure | Not Required to Attend |
| Y4 | ` | Whole school site unexpectedly closed | School closure | Not Required to Attend |
| Y5 | : | Criminal justice detention | Detention | Not Required to Attend |
| Y6 | | | Public health guidance or law | Public health restriction | Not Required to Attend |
| Y7 | _ | Other unavoidable cause | Exceptional circumstance | Not Required to Attend |
| Z | Z | Prospective pupil not yet on register | Admission pending | Not Required to Attend |
| # | # | Planned whole-school closure | Session not available | Not Required to Attend |
Wales (WG)
Any reports that reference the internal code must be case sensitive. If not, it will affect the outcome of the reporting as some codes have different meanings according to whether they are uppercase or lowercase.
| External Code | Internal Code | Description | Meaning | Statistical Meaning |
| / | / | Present (AM) | Pupil present | Present |
| \ | \ | Present (PM) | Pupil present during registration session | Present |
| L | L | Late but arrived before the register closed | Present but arrived late before closure of register | Present |
| B | B | Educated off-site (not dual registration) | Attending approved education away from the school site | Approved Educational Activity |
| B1 | b | Pupil in receipt of online learning provided by Local Authority | Receiving LA-provided online learning | Approved Educational Activity |
| B2 | c | Pupil in receipt of online learning provided by School | Receiving school-provided online learning | Approved Educational Activity |
| C1 | < | Other authorised circumstances (not covered by another appropriate code/description) | Authorised absence where no more specific code applies | Authorised Absence |
| C2 | > | Absence due to a paid performance | Absent because of participation in paid performance work | Authorised Absence |
| C3 | d | Pupil who is flexi-schooled | Attending education under a flexi-schooling arrangement | Authorised Absence |
| C4 | e | Pupil who is on a part time timetable | Attending school under an agreed part-time timetable | Authorised Absence |
| D1 | f | Dual registered (i.e. present at another school or at a PRU) | Dual registration code retained for historical statistical purposes | Not Required to Attend |
| E | E | Excluded but no alternative provision made | Excluded from school with no alternative provision available | Authorised Absence |
| F | F | Agreed extended family holiday | Extended family holiday approved by the school | Authorised Absence |
| G | G | Family holiday (not agreed or in excess of agreement) | Unauthorised family holiday | Unauthorised Absence |
| H | H | Agreed family holiday | Family holiday approved by the school | Authorised Absence |
| I1 | g | Physical illness | Absent due to physical illness | Authorised Absence |
| I2 | h | Non-physical illness | Absent due to mental health or other non-physical illness | Authorised Absence |
| J | J | External Interview | Attending an interview outside school | Approved Educational Activity |
| M | M | Medical or dental appointment | Attending a medical or dental appointment | Authorised Absence |
| N | N | No reason for the absence provided yet | Reason for absence not yet established | Unauthorised Absence |
| O | O | Other unauthorised (not covered by other codes or descriptions) | Unauthorised absence not fitting another category | Unauthorised Absence |
| P1 | b | Approved sporting activity | Taking part in approved sporting activity | Approved Educational Activity |
| P2 | c | Approved Performance | Taking part in an approved performance | Approved Educational Activity |
| R | R | Day set aside exclusively for religious observance | Absent for recognised religious observance | Authorised Absence |
| S | S | Study leave | Approved study leave for examinations or study | Authorised Absence |
| T | T | Traveller absence | Absence associated with traveller lifestyle | Authorised Absence |
| U | U | Late and arrived after the register closed | Arrived after register closed and counted absent | Unauthorised Absence |
| V | V | Educational visit or trip | Attending a school-organised visit or trip | Approved Educational Activity |
| W | W | Work experience (not work based training) | Attending work experience placement | Approved Educational Activity |
| X | X | Untimetabled sessions for non-compulsory school-age pupils | Session not required because pupil is below compulsory school age | Not Required to Attend |
| Y1 | $ | Partial and forced closure | School partially closed and attendance not possible | Not Required to Attend |
| Y2 | a | Forced closure | School fully closed and attendance not possible | Not Required to Attend |
| Z | Z | Pupil not on roll yet | Prospective pupil not yet admitted to the school roll | Not Required to Attend |
| # | # | School closed to all pupils | Planned or complete closure affecting all pupils | Not Required to Attend |