§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will estimate the number of school days lost to truancy each year in(a) the Lancashire education authority area and (b) England. [55109]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisThe number of days missed due to unauthorised absence in the last three years are presented in the table. Data are based on the annual pupil absence survey that is conducted at the end of May and is based on the first five half-terms of the school year. We can not estimate the figures for the final half-term of the year as year 11 students attend irregularly while they take their GCSE examinations.
294W
Number of school sessions (half-days) missed due to unauthorised absences in maintained schools in Lancashire and England Lancashire England 2000–01 Day pupils of compulsory school age 160,768 6,698,285 Total possible pupil sessions1,2 49,196,000 1,987,849,000 Total sessions missed 271,216 14,833,790 Total number of days missed 135,608 7,416,895 1999–2000 Day pupils of compulsory school age 162,979 6,636,828 Total possible pupil sessions1,2 50,834,000 1,990,299,000 Total sessions missed 281,090 14,479,457 Total number of days missed 140,545 7,239,729 1998–99 Day pupils of compulsory school age 162,583 6,607,438 Total possible pupil sessions1,2 51,067,000 2,005,657,000
Number of school sessions (half-days) missed due to unauthorised absences in maintained schools in Lancashire and England Lancashire England Total sessions missed 301,308 15,053,051 Total number of days missed 150,654 7,526,526 1Rounded to nearest 1,000 2 Total pupil sessions are calculated as (total number of pupils) x (total possible school sessions between September and May census date)