Truancy figures down

Truancy in secondary schools has gone down in Oldham but still remains higher than the average across England.

Figures for the autumn term, 2009, show 1.35 per cent of all classes were missed due to unauthorised absence, down from 1.59 per cent in autumn, 2008.

Despite the reduction, truancy is still worse than across England with a 1.22 per cent unauthorised absence rate.

In addition the figures from the Department for Education show 1,030 pupils were classed as “persistent absentees” taking off more than 14 days, nearly three weeks in a 14-week term.

Included in the number are 140 who missed a staggering 32 days of school in the short period. Both figures are down from the previous year but still are higher based on the percentage of pupils than across England.

Councillor Jack Hulme, Oldham’s Cabinet member for children and families, said: “Overall attendance in Oldham schools has gone up and we are pleased with these figures. These results are particularly welcome because during the autumn term schools were hit by absences due to swine flu.

“We are committed to fighting long-term absenteeism in our schools and these figures show our strategies aimed at meeting government targets are working.”

Figures for Oldham primary schools show there were 750 persistent absentees missing at least 14 days of school including 30 children who missed more than six weeks in the autumn, 2009 term. Both figures were down on the previous year. Unauthorised in primary schools across the borough is 0.65 per cent compared with 0.62 across England.