§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the change has been in the number of(a) unauthorised absences and (b) exclusions in schools since 1998. [69294]
§ Stephen TwiggThe information requested is shown in the following table.
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Number of Exclusions (1) and Unauthorised Absences (2) in Schools in England Total Exclusions Percentage of school population (3) Percentage of half days missed because of unauthorised absence (4) 1997–98 12,298 0.16 0.7 1998–99 10,438 0.14 0.7 1999–2000 8,323 0.11 0.7 2000–01 9,210(5) 0.12(5) 0.7 (1) Includes maintained primary and secondary and maintained and non-maintained special schools.
(2) Includes maintained primary and secondary schools, maintained and non-maintained special schools, independent schools and city technology colleges.
(3) The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the total number (headcount) of full and part-time pupils of all ages (excluding dually registered pupils in special schools) in January each year.
(4) The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of sessions (i.e. half days) missed due to unauthorised absence by the total number of sessions.
(5) Provisional estimates
Source:
Annual Schools' Census and the Absence in Schools Survey