Over 12 months from spring 2022, 10,181 children left state education with no known destination, while another 13,120 moved to home learning - with many parents reporting this was a "last resort".

Figures also show 2,868 children were either known or suspected to be out of education completely.

These so-called "ghost children" - more of whom have been reported since the pandemic, as Sky News has revealed - are more likely to be from deprived areas and be known to social care.

"I am deeply concerned to see just how many children are falling through the cracks after leaving the state-funded education system," Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said.

"While the reasons for leaving school may vary, my report highlights that thousands of children are simply unknown to local authorities."

Analysis of the data found most of the children who left state education to go to home education were aged 11 to 14 (64%).

Most who had unknown destinations were aged four to nine (54%), as were many of those known to be, or suspected of, missing education (41%).

Most parents interviewed for the report said they chose home education as a last resort, claiming schools had not offered the support their child needed to engage in education.

More than 80% of all children who moved into home education were persistently or severely absent in the previous year.

"I have spoken to thousands of children who have told me about how important school is for them, but this report shows too many young people are finding themselves out of education," Dame Rachel added.

The government was criticised for the King's Speech in November, which set out the legislative agenda for the year but did not mention a plan to reduce the number of ghost children.

These are often pupils who have been excluded from the classroom and then fall out of the system - making them vulnerable to being targeted by gangs.

Councils 'lack power'

Among the report's recommendations are powers to identify children in education, with each child having a unique ID and local authorities being given powers to direct admissions.

Louise Gittins, chair of the Local Government Association's (LGA) children and young people board, said councils "lack the powers to ensure children who are missing school don't slip through the net".

She told Sky News the LGA is calling for a register of children not in school, along with powers for councils to check children are receiving a suitable education.

"We also echo the commissioner's calls for councils to have powers to direct admissions for all schools, including academies," she added.

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Ministers had promised to bring forward legislation for a children-not-in-school register.

The education secretary said that remains the government's position - though she did not say when the plans would be brought before parliament, only saying it would be at a "suitable opportunity".

Responding to the new report, the Department for Education told Sky News children should receive a "suitable education regardless of where they are educated".

"We are continuing to work with local authorities to improve their non-statutory registers as well as supporting schools, trusts, governing bodies and local authorities to identify pupils who are at risk of becoming - or who are - persistently absent so they can receive regular and consistent education whether that be in school or at home," a spokesperson added.

Sky News reported in May last year that, in autumn 2022, 125,222 pupils were away from the classroom more often than not - compared to 60,244 in Autumn 2019.

Local councils had blamed funding problems for not being able to keep track of missing pupils well enough.

Despite the government spending more on education since 2019, rising costs and soaring inflation have cancelled out any funding increase.