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Truancy Numbers Falling With Teachers' Support
February 28th, 2009
Truancy numbers falling with teachers' support SCHOOLS in North East Lincolnshire are winning the battle against truancy.
New figures from the Department for Children, Schools and Families show that the number of pupils in our area who miss school is falling, bringing it in line with the national average. Overall absence numbers are going down, as is the number of pupils who are classed as persistent absentees - meaning they miss more than 30 days of school each year.
Between 2007 and 2008, 438 of North East Lincolnshire's 7,960 secondary school pupils (5.7 per cent) were classed as persistent absentees, who are responsible for more than a third of all absences. The national average is 5.6 per cent.
The previous year, 7.6 per cent of pupils were defined as persistent absentees, with 8.3 per cent of pupils falling into the category between 2005 and 2006.
The rate of overall absence from secondary schools - which measures the percentage of half days missed - fell to 7.46 per cent between 2007 and 2008, compared with 8.68 per cent the previous year.
The national average is 7.36 per cent.
Tollbar Business and Enterprise College vice-principal Janice Hornby said that a range of measures keep their attendance rates high. She said: "Student questionnaires show that students feel valued and supported by their teachers and therefore want to attend school. "Our increasing culture of success leads to better attendance, including after school, weekends and holidays.
"We have two attendance officers who monitor attendance on a lesson by lesson basis, and there is an immediate response to truancy involving the college and parents.
"Senior college staff also respond to any reports from the community of students not in college, but this is a rare occurrence."
Pupil Tom Over (15), who has 100 per cent attendance, said: "It is important to attend school every day to get the grades you need to get a good job."
Lauren Tutty (15) said: "Attending school is important so you can get a good education."
Coun Margaret Cracknell, NELC portfolio holder for children's services, welcomed the news of falling truancy rates.
She said: "This is great news. I know that certainly the local authority has been working with schools to encourage parents to make sure their children attend during term time.
"However, I am really pleased to see that all of the efforts are paying off and I would like to say thank you to parents for encouraging their children to go to school."
The rate of overall absence at secondary schools in Lincolnshire has also dropped to 6.98 per cent from 7.45 per cent the previous year. In the county, 1,881 (4.5 per cent) of the 41,800 secondary school pupils are defined as persistent absentees.
Article from Grimsby Telegraph - Saturday Febuary 28th 2009
