Tens of thousands of pupils were away from their classes as attendance rates plummeted dramatically in all parts of Kent, according to a snapshot of official figures.

Data from official returns by schools to the Department for Education reveal that non-attendance rates in some areas meant that less than half of all children were in primary and secondary school.

According to the DfE, data submitted by Kent schools showed that on December 14, the overall number of pupils in class was 95,070 when 161,898 should have been - nearly 67,000 fewer.

The numbers are based on statistics submitted by 414 of Kent’s schools out of a total of 591.

The figures show that two of the hardest hit areas for coronavirus had the fewest number of children in schools.

Thanet had the poorest attendance rate based on figures supplied by 32 of its 44 schools.

Of the 14,506 pupils in the area, 6,920 were at their desks - equivalent to 47.7%.

Swale was the second worst area, with an attendance rate of 48.1% based on figures provided by 36 of the 58 schools in the district.

Of the 13,910 children in the borough, 6,686 were in class.

In Ashford, where there are 14,778 children, 7,648 (51%) were in school; in Canterbury, 6,549 were in class out of 12,867 (51%); and in Maidstone, out of its 19,228 pupils, 10,050 turned up (52%).

While the figures are only a snapshot and not all schools submitted data, they bear out anecdotal evidence that there was a sharp decline in attendance in the days running up to the end of term.

Of those areas less affected, schools in Sevenoaks saw 83% of pupils in class, while Tunbridge Wells saw 80%.

The data covers not just those pupils who were self isolating or had the virus but other reasons for non-attendance, although there is no breakdown.

It comes amid a backlash over government plans to enforce a staggered return to school in January.

All secondary schools have been told that in the first week of term they should only teach online.

At the same time, schools have also been told that they should oversee the mass testing of pupils.

Details about the measures came as schools closed for the end of term.

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