The Department has published data on the number and proportion of pupils in 5% absence bands. This report investigates how pupils transition between these bands as they progress through year groups using data from pupils in state-funded mainstream schools in 2021/22 and 2022/23 -- and therefore focuses on one years' worth of transitions. This analysis uses pupil-level data to track movement. This analysis shows that as pupils get older their year-on-year change in attendance (transition) worsens. Children with poor attendance in primary school are more likely to recover to a higher level of attendance the next year compared to secondary school pupils.