Welsh schools record attendance using standard codes set by the Welsh Government. Schools cannot create custom codes.
This guide outlines what each attendance code means and how it affects statutory attendance statistics.
What changed from 1 September 2026
From the 2026/27 academic year, Welsh attendance tracking uses a more detailed set of codes:
- New register codes: B1, B2, P1, P2, C1, C2, C3, C4, I1, I2, Y1, Y2, and D1.
- Single-letter codes removed: P, C, I, Y, and D are no longer available.
- Code J Update: Description changed to External Interview.
- Historical data: Attendance recorded before 1 September 2026 retains its original codes. Dual registered (D) recorded prior to this date counts as attendance. From 1 September 2026, schools must use code D1, which does not count as attendance.
- Unchanged codes: Any codes not listed above remain unchanged.
Students who have been marked with only absent codes or codes that do not count will show as 0% attendance.
Breakdown of available codes
| Code | Description | Statistical category |
| / | Present at AM registration | Present |
| \ | Present at PM registration | Present |
| L | Late but arrived before the register closed | Present |
| B | Educated off-site (not dual registration) | Approved educational activity |
| B1 | Pupil in receipt of online learning provided by Local Authority | Approved educational activity |
| B2 | Pupil in receipt of online learning provided by School | Approved educational activity |
| J | External Interview | Approved educational activity |
| P1 | Approved sporting activity | Approved educational activity |
| P2 | Approved performance | Approved educational activity |
| V | Educational visit or trip | Approved educational activity |
| W | Work experience (not work based training) | Approved educational activity |
| C1 | Other authorised circumstances (not covered by another appropriate code/description) | Authorised absence |
| C2 | Absence due to a paid performance | Authorised absence |
| C3 | Pupil who is flexi-schooled | Authorised absence |
| C4 | Pupil who is on a part time timetable | Authorised absence |
| E | Excluded but no alternative provision made | Authorised absence |
| F | Agreed extended family holiday | Authorised absence |
| H | Agreed family holiday | Authorised absence |
| I1 | Physical illness | Authorised absence |
| I2 | Non-physical illness | Authorised absence |
| M | Medical or dental appointment | Authorised absence |
| R | Day set aside exclusively for religious observance | Authorised absence |
| S | Study leave | Authorised absence |
| T | Traveller absence | Authorised absence |
| G | Family holiday (not agreed or in excess of agreement) | Unauthorised absence |
| N | No reason for the absence provided yet | Unauthorised absence |
| O | Other unauthorised (not covered by other codes or descriptions) | Unauthorised absence |
| U | Late and arrived after the register closed | Unauthorised absence |
| D1 | Dual registered (ie present at another school or at a PRU) | Not required to attend |
| X | Un-timetabled sessions for non-compulsory school-age pupils | Not required to attend |
| Y1 | Partial and forced closure | Not required to attend |
| Y2 | Forced closure | Not required to attend |
| Z | Pupil not on roll yet | Not required to attend |
| # | School closed to all pupils | Not required to attend |
How codes count towards attendance
| Statistical category | Codes | How it counts |
| Present | /, \, L | Counts as present |
| Approved educational activity | B, B1, B2, J, P1, P2, V, W | Counts as attendance |
| Authorised absence | C1–C4, E, F, H, I1, I2, M, R, S, T | Counts as authorised absence |
| Unauthorised absence | G, N, O, U | Counts as unauthorised absence |
| Not required to attend | D1, X, Y1, Y2, Z, # | Does not count |
How codes affect attendance figures
- Unauthorised marks reduce statutory percentage: Code U counts as an absence.
- Excluded sessions do not lower percentage: Code D1 does not count toward possible sessions. A pupil with multiple D1 marks and no missed counting sessions will have 100% attendance.
- No countable sessions: If none of a pupil's recorded marks count toward statutory attendance, their attendance statistics display as N/A.
- Reporting layout: Codes D1, Y1, and Y2 do not have dedicated columns in Attendance Statistics because they fall under the Not required to attend category.
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