§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what percentage of schoolchildren have failed to attend school classes due to illness in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Coventry in each of the last three years; [46219]
(2) what was the total number of days schoolchildren missed during each of the last three academic years in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Coventry; [46220]
(3) what was the average number of days lost per schoolchild as a result of failing to attend class due to illness in each of the last three years. [46221]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisRates of authorised and unauthorised absence for maintained primary and secondary schools in Coventry for the last three academic years, together with England averages, are given in the following tables.
Absences due to illness are not identified separately in the authorised absence data collected by the Department.
Authorised absence in maintained primary schools Percentage of half days missed Average number of half day missed per absent pupil 1994–95 Coventry 5.9 20 England Average 5.7 19 1995–96 Coventry 6.4 21 England Average 6.0 20 1996–97 Coventry 5.9 19 England Average 5.6 18
150W
Unauthorised absence in maintained primary schools Percentage of half day missed Average number of half days missed per absent pupil 1994–95 Coventry 0.5 10 England Average 0.5 10 1995–96 Coventry 0.5 11 England Average 0.5 10 1996–97 Coventry 0.4 9 England Average 0.5 10
Authorised absence in maintained secondary schools Percentage of half days missed Average number of half per missed absent pupil 1994–95 Coventry 7.9 28 England Average 8.2 27 1995–96 Coventry 8.4 28 England Average 8.4 28 1996–97 Coventry 8.9 29 England Average 8.1 26
Unauthorised absence in maintained secondary schools Percentage of half days missed Average number of half day missed per absent pupil 1994–95 Coventry 1.4 34 England Average 1.0 22 1995–96 Coventry 1.3 31 England Average 1.0 21 1996–97 Coventry 1.3 30 England Average 1.0 20
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to improve the health of schoolchildren to reduce the number of school days lost through illness. [46222]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisThe Government wish to play their part in helping to reduce the number of school days lost through illness. The National Healthy Schools Initiative, launched in May, will raise awareness among children, and their teachers, families and communities, of the important opportunities that exist in schools for improving health and raising achievement.
The Initiative includes a National Healthy Schools Award designed to promote a whole-school approach to health, a Healthy Teacher Focus and the development of strategies for encouraging safe travel to school. These, and other measures, will help young people to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to look after and improve their health in a range of contexts.