Fall continues in number of pupils playing truant

THE number of pupils absent from primary and secondary schools in the city and county is continuing to fall, according to new figures.

A total of 5.8 per cent of secondary school pupils were classed as persistent absentees in the city – down from 7.4 per cent in 2008-09 and nearly half the level in 2006-07 when it was 11.1 per cent.

Figures released by the Department for Education yesterday also show that 4.2 per cent of pupils in Notts were persistent absentees, down from 5.5 per cent in 2008-09 and 7.8 per cent in 2006-07.

The overall rate of absence – including authorised, unauthorised and persistent absences – improved by 1.03 per cent to 7.56 per cent.

Nottingham City Council has welcomed the figures and the improving trend in attendance over recent years.

Mark Andrews, the city council's director of Family Community Teams, said: "While we are delighted by the strong improvements shown across most measures, there is clearly still more work to do."

He added: "Allowing children to miss a day off school does matter. Just 17 missed days in the school year can lead to a drop of one grade at GCSE level.

"We do understand that some parents need help. However, parents need to remember it is illegal for your child to be absent without authorisation and you could face prosecution."

The city council is working with the police to successfully prosecute parents of children who are persistently absent.

Richard Antcliff, chief anti-social behaviour officer for the city council's community protection division, said: "We are clamping down on school absence."

A persistent absentee is defined as a pupil who had 64 or more morning or afternoon sessions off school during the year. It adds up to around 20 per cent of the school year.

There has also been a fall in the number of absentees at primary schools in the city and county – which is now at its lowest in the last four years.

The rate in the city was three per cent, down from 3.6 per cent. In the county, the figure also dropped from 1.4 per cent to 1.3 per cent.

Councillor Philip Owen, Notts County Council's cabinet member for children and young people's services, said: "I am pleased that Notts' absence figures are moving in the right direction. Our priority is to get pupils back into school and ensure that they make the most of education."

Across all schools nationally, the persistent absentee rate has also decreased, from 3.3 per cent to 2.9 per cent, although schools minister Nick Gibb said absenteeism was still too high.

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