§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the main reasons for recorded absence from schools of(a) pupils and (b) teachers for each of the past five years for which figures are available.
§ Mrs. RumboldInformation about the level of, and reasons for, pupil absence from schools is not held centrally.
Some information about the level of teacher absence from maintained schools in England is contained in the 1987 primary and 1988 secondary school staffing surveys. About 4.5 per cent. of class teachers in nursery and primary schools were estimated to be on short term absence on any one day. No breakdown of this figure between absences due to illness, in-service training or other reasons is available.
Similar information in respect of secondary schools is expected to be available shortly. This will include a breakdown by reason for absence.