GCSEs in England hit by high absence levels and mental ill health, heads say

Earlier this year the Guardian reported that one in 10 pupils taking GCSEs in year 11 were absent from school in England each day. Photograph: David Jones/PA

High levels of persistent absence and mental ill health have undermined pupils’ GCSE results to be published later this week, headteachers have said, as education experts warn of 300,000 fewer top grades being awarded in England this year.

School leaders who spoke to the Guardian said they experienced unprecedented numbers of pupils failing to turn up or walking out in the middle of exams.