ATL: Truancy figures reflect bottom line

The inevitable existence of a "hard core" of persistent truants reflects the government's inability to completely tackle social inequalities, it has been suggested.

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers was responding to figures out today showing record new levels of truancy in English schools.

"These are the children and young people who are totally disengaged from school, often with difficult and chaotic home lives and from families with financial problems," general secretary Dr Mary Bousted said, referring to persistent truants.

Higher truancy levels follow this morning's revelation from the Conservatives that one in five parents are unable to get their child into their first-choice school.

The government argues it is raising overall standards in state schools but admits the truancy problem is especially strong in some areas.

Dr Bousted believes government testing may be undermining efforts to improve England's schools.

Speaking of persistent truants, she added: "Their reluctance to go to school is further compounded by continuous testing which repeatedly brands them as failures from seven upwards."