HUNDREDS of secondary school pupils were absent in Herefordshire on just one day this month, estimates suggest.

The Education Policy Institute said there were "huge disparities" in attendance rates across English local authorities, and that the Government had failed to address the issue.

Department for Education figures released for the first time estimate up to 213 pupils in state secondary schools in Herefordshire were absent on December 10 – giving an attendance rate of 80%.

Of these, five were absent with either a confirmed or suspected case of Covid-19.

Concerned that some children were counted in multiple categories, the DfE estimates the number of pupils absent because they were forced to self-isolate was between 201 and 208.

Between the start of September and last week, Herefordshire has had an average weekly attendance rate of 87% in secondary schools – slightly below other parts of the country.

Rates for the school year so far have varied widely across England, with Rutland, West Sussex and York having average attendances of 90%, and Rochdale just 70%.

The National Education Union said it is not fair that all these pupils would sit exams under the same conditions next year.

Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the NEU, said the attendance figures, which have been "hidden from the public for so long", reveal the impact of the pandemic on schooling.

He said that Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, who threatened several councils with legal action if they closed schools early, and the Government have failed to keep schools safe.

Mr Courtney added: “The interests of an individual child are of course to be in school, but you have to view this with a wider canvas than that – which Gavin Williamson has been failing to do in his recourse to legal threats.

"Schools are deeply concerned that community spread is being generated by schools, which are now widely accepted to be major centres of transmission, particularly in secondaries."

There were up to 98 primary school children absent in Herefordshire on December 10, with 17 off due to a suspected case of the disease.

And a further five students were missing from special schools in the area on the day. However, the figures had limited responses from special schools.

The DfE said keeping schools open was a national priority, with every secondary school and college in England to have access to rapid coronavirus testing from January.