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Overall absence falls to record low but Young People's Minister urges schools, councils and parents to do more to target persistent absentees

DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES News Release (2008/0030) issued by The Government News Network on 26 February 2008

Persistent absence is falling and overall absence is at a record low, as efforts to turn the tide on poor school attendance continue to show good results, the Government announced today.

But Minister for Young People Kevin Brennan is writing to all local authorities urging them to keep up the pressure on persistent absence, tackling the causes, ensuring good behaviour and making parents accountable.

This year's attendance data is the most detailed ever, including reasons for absence to enable local authorities and schools to keep closer tabs on absence and focus their resources. Mr Brennan used it to issue a challenge to local authorities and schools to cut persistent absence by at least a third by 2011.

Between 2004 and 2007 over 30,000 penalty notices have been issued to parents because of their child's high level of unauthorised absence and over 19,000 parenting contracts were agreed to improve attendance.

Kevin Brennan said: "Overall absence is at a record low, as has been the trend over the past decade. We're on course to meet our 2008 target of reducing absence by 8 per cent compared to 2002/3 figures.

"But working with schools and local authorities we need to do much more. While we have cut the amount of persistent absence - from 7.1 % to 6.7 % - in the last year it is still the major challenge we must tackle.

"About seven per cent of pupils account for a third of all absence in secondary schools but the evidence shows that targeting is working, with 436 schools with the biggest share of persistent absence having reduced it by almost 20 per cent in a year.

"Local authorities, schools and parents all have a key role to play in ensuring children attend school, are on time and don't go on unauthorised term-time holidays. We want to offer all the support we can to vulnerable children - for example, young carers, children with special educational needs and victims of bullying. However there's no excuse for parents who turn a blind eye or schools that accept weak reasons for absence.

"The logical consequence of successfully getting tougher on absence is that the overall figure will fall and fewer excuses be accepted, increasing 'unauthorised' absences.

"So it is no surprise when the "unauthorised absence" figure goes up because schools are taking a tougher stance on weak excuses they may once have authorised. The result is that overall absence is going down because parents are getting the message every lesson counts. Dubious absences are now being rigorously queried rather than overlooked as they may have been a decade ago. Another drop in overall absence this year shows we're succeeding, with on average 58,000 more pupils in school each day than if absence were still at 1997 levels."

"Behind every single absence statistic is an individual story we need to get to the bottom of and solve. There can be no passivity in the face of the scourge of persistent absence.

"We will encourage schools and councils to provide whatever positive support they can. But parents who fail in their duty to get their kids to school every day should expect tough sanctions."

Local authorities have a vital part to play in targeting support where it is needed and supporting schools in minimising pupil absence.

The detailed figures for primary schools mean greater emphasis on tackling pupils' absence issues early and heading off persistent absence later in their school life.

Evidence shows that schools and local authorities targeting intervention at the most needed areas is the best way to drive down absenteeism. Some examples of good practice would include:

* Local authorities carrying out coordinated school attendance and exclusions sweeps;

* Schools working in partnership to help reduce persistent absence.

Ministers want schools to learn from the best practice of others. For example, Quarrendon School in Buckinghamshire has launched initiatives including a Cockerel Club, where an attendance officer phones pupils between 7.30 and 8.30 to check they are ready for school and teaching assistants monitor the school gates to take the names of late arrivals and pass them on to tutors.

Aldworth Science College in Basingstoke, Hampshire has tackled the fear of bullying during break periods by providing a safe room, which has encouraged pupils to maintain full attendance. It has also worked hard to build up strong engagement with parents and has banned term-time holidays during key exam periods and for 14-16 year olds.

NOTES TO EDITORS

* Statistics can be found here: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000775/index.shtml

* Promoting regular attendance is a key component in the Government's strategy to raise educational standards and ensure children's welfare. Absence from school increases the likelihood that pupils will leave school without qualifications. Absence can lead to an increased risk of harm or injury for children, or their potential involvement in criminal or anti-social behaviour. The School Attendance Strategy provides a balanced package of support and sanctions to reinforce parental responsibility for school attendance.

* Parents are responsible for ensuring that their compulsory school-age children are receiving a full-time suitable education. They can do this by sending their children to school or by using other means such as home education. Where registered at a school, parents are responsible for ensuring the child's regular attendance. Schools must provide children with 380 half-day learning sessions each academic year, and accurately record attendance.

* The Children's Plan set for all local authorities the goal of 5 per cent or fewer persistent absentee pupils by 2011, reducing the level by a third from 7.7 per cent in spring 2006.

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