Number of students in school during lockdown increases for second week in row, government figures show

Around 895,000 key worker children were in attendance last Thursday

Around 16 per cent of children attended state school last week, DfE figures show (Getty Images)

The number of children attending state schools during lockdown has risen for the second week in a row, according to government data. 

Around 16 per cent of all pupils in England were onsite last Thursday, according to the latest Department for Education (DfE) figures. 

This is a rise from 15 per cent the week before, and 14 per cent on 21 January.

Around 895,000 children of critical workers were in school last Thursday, a rise of 45,000 from the week before, according to the DfE figures.

The latest data comes just over a month after schools were told to move online for all but vulnerable and key worker children as part of England's current lockdown over the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Total attendance in school has been higher this lockdown compared to the one last spring, when schools also moved online for most pupils.

According to the latest data, around 23 per cent of students physically attended primary schools on 4 February - up by one per cent from the week before - while secondary school attendance remained at five per cent. 

During March to May last year, onsite attendance was around 4 per cent for primary schools and one per cent of secondary schools, government analysis shows.

Headteachers told The Independent last month parents seemed more eager to take up places where eligible this lockdown, compared to last spring.

The government also confirmed this year pupils without laptops at home could be classed as vulnerable and keep coming to school.

Boris Johnson, the UK prime minister, said England's schools will remain online for most pupils until at least 8 March, when the government hopes children may start returning to class.