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New truancy strategy in spotlight More primary age pupils truanting
(about 4 hours later)
The state of the government's strategy to cut truancy in English schools will be under review on Thursday with the release of the latest official figures. More primary school pupils have been playing truant from England's schools, latest official figures reveal.
Millions have been spent on the problem with little impact, though targeting persistent truants is said to work. This meant an increase in the overall rate of unauthorised absence last year to a record level, though in secondary schools it fell slightly.
But the annual absence figures will not reveal the true extent of the issue. Overall, the percentages of half day sessions missed by pupils was 6.68%: 5.89% of which was authorised and 0.79% unauthorised - the worst it has been.
Schools are required to log attendance only from September to May. Also, the growing number of academies have been removed from the official figures. The official statistics count the school year only up to 26 May.
Other statistics show that the average rate of unauthorised absence in 14 academies last year was 2.9% - more than twice the national average. Breakdown
The Department for Education and Skills statistics showed that in primary schools, unauthorised absence increased by almost 7% from last year's final figure, from 0.43% to 0.46% of half day sessions.
In secondary schools it fell, by less than 1%, from 1.23% to 1.22%.
Authorised absences - which include holidays in term-time and sickness - rose by 6% in primary schools from 5% to 5.3% of half days.
In secondary schools authorised absences also rose, although not as markedly: from 6.58% to 6.7%.
TargetingTargeting
Last year's absence statistics showed an overall jump of more than 10% from 2004 in the rate of unauthorised absence in secondary schools. MPs and the National Audit Office have said that despite the millions of pounds spent on truancy initiatives, the problem has remained stubbornly hard to crack.
MPs and the National Audit Office have said that despite the huge sums spent on truancy initiatives, the problem has remained stubbornly hard to crack.
But the Department for Education and Skills will be stressing that efforts to tackle persistent truancy by relatively few pupils can pay off.But the Department for Education and Skills will be stressing that efforts to tackle persistent truancy by relatively few pupils can pay off.
It has been focusing on 200 schools where pupils took more than 20 days out of school without permission across a year.It has been focusing on 200 schools where pupils took more than 20 days out of school without permission across a year.
The department says that nationally such persistent truants account for 1% of the school population, but more than 30% of all truancy.The department says that nationally such persistent truants account for 1% of the school population, but more than 30% of all truancy.
Once the problem children were identified, their parents were put on a "Fast Track to Attendance" scheme with an automatic court prosecution unless their child's attendance improved within 12 weeks.Once the problem children were identified, their parents were put on a "Fast Track to Attendance" scheme with an automatic court prosecution unless their child's attendance improved within 12 weeks.
ReductionReduction
Each truant, together with their parents, was assigned a dedicated truancy officer to draw up an individual action plan to improve their attendance.Each truant, together with their parents, was assigned a dedicated truancy officer to draw up an individual action plan to improve their attendance.
Truants and their parents also had support from social and youth services to tackle any wider issues such as drugs, mental health or parenting skill shortages.Truants and their parents also had support from social and youth services to tackle any wider issues such as drugs, mental health or parenting skill shortages.
At Edmonton County School in Enfield, north-west London, 40 youngsters were identified as persistent truants at the start of the last school year.At Edmonton County School in Enfield, north-west London, 40 youngsters were identified as persistent truants at the start of the last school year.
The school has managed to reduce this number to just four.The school has managed to reduce this number to just four.
And nationally, the 200 schools have managed to achieve a total reduction of 27% of numbers of persistent truants - equivalent to some 3,500 pupils, the department said.And nationally, the 200 schools have managed to achieve a total reduction of 27% of numbers of persistent truants - equivalent to some 3,500 pupils, the department said.
Even so, the statistics are likely to underline the fact that truancy is not only something caused by a hardcore minority. Even so, the statistics underline the fact that truancy is not only something caused by a hardcore minority.
Typically, on any school day more than 50,000 pupils are absent without permission. Typically, on any school day some 55,000 pupils are absent without permission.
Across the country as a whole, more than a fifth of secondary school pupils are absent without permission at some point during the year - in some areas, more than half of them. Across the country as a whole, more than a fifth of secondary school pupils are absent without permission at some point during the year - in some areas, almost half of them.