Commenting as new figures show an increase in 'severe' pupil absence from school, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

"These figures make it clear that the current approach to solving absence just isn’t working. Simply increasing the pressure on schools, without providing any additional resource for them to tackle the issue, is fruitless.

"The only way to actually make progress is to look at the causes of absence – from parental attitude changes, holiday pricing, and children and young people’s experiences of mental health and poverty. Unless we begin to improve those things, absence will continue.

"Unfortunately, these problems are complex and largely outside of schools’ ability or remit to solve. More is needed from the government at a fundamental societal level to truly shift the dial."