HC Deb 05 May 2004 vol 420 cc1591-2W
Mr. Rosindell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) if he will make a statement on the measures the Government are taking to deal with truancy; [169950]

(2) what the most recent figures are for truancy rates. [169951]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

Truancy is measured as the percentage of half school days missed due to unauthorised absence and stands at 0.70 per cent. for 2002/03. This is an improvement on the 2001/02 level of 0.72 per cent. and is equivalent to around 1,300 more pupils back in school each day. The 2002/03 level of school attendance of 93.17 per cent. is the highest ever recorded since national records began in 1993/94. These data indicate that the Department's Behaviour and Attendance Strategy, launched in December 2002, is making a positive impact on truancy. For example, 125 of the secondary schools supported by the targeted Behaviour Improvement Programme reduced truancy by 0.09 percentage points between 2001/02 and 2002/ 03—almost five times the national average. The programme is being evaluated and the good practice identified will be disseminated more widely. In this school year, we have made behaviour and attendance audit materials and training for staff available to every secondary school and we are piloting materials for primary schools in 25 local education authorities. In addition to providing support and good practice, for schools and their pupils, we are making it clear that we do not tolerate any unjustified absence from school. Since December 2002, national truancy sweeps have stopped over 50,000 pupils out of school, almost 40 per cent. of whom were judged to be truanting and, in about half of cases, the truant was with a parent. We have therefore introduced new measures, such as the Fast Track to Prosecution system and parenting contracts and penalty notices, to promote and reinforce parental responsibility for their child's school attendance.