Truancy in English schools hit new record high
Tuesday, 26 Feb 2008 12:13
Truancy levels have risen to record highs
New figures showing record new levels of truancy in English schools have been released by the government.
Figures published today by the Department for Children, Schools and Families show that around 63,000 pupils skipped class every day in 2006/07.
This equates to nearly 273,000 students missing at least one day of school a week through truancy, illness or other reasons.
As a result children's minister Kevin Brennan has announced he will be writing to every local authority calling on them to tackle the causes of truancy and make parents more accountable.
Mr Brennan announced that the total rate of school absence fell to 6.49 per cent of classes.
The rate of "unauthorised absence", which is used as a judge of truancy, however rose to its highest level on record – a 0.92 per cent rise on last year.
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