School absence rates show significant fall

Latest figures show the overall absence rate for the autumn term fell from 5.2 per cent in 2012 to 4.3 per cent in 2013.

The fall will come as a relief to the government after data for the 2012/13 academic year published in March showed absence rates rose for the first time in five years.

The proportion of persistant absentees, who have missed 46 or more sessions, has also fallen, from 0.9 per cent in 2012’s autumn term to 0.7 per cent in the same term in 2013.

Over the same period the proportion of pupils at risk of becoming persistant absentees, defined as those who have missed 22 or more sessions, has also fallen, from 6.4 per cent to 4.7 per cent.

These latest figures come amid a tough love approach to truancy policy by the government. Since 2011 it has increased the level of fines for parents, launched a crackdown on holiday absences as well as offered support to families blighted by truancy through its Troubled Families iniative.

In addition, since October 2011 the definition of persistent truant has been broadened from a pupil that misses 15 per cent of school to 20 per cent, to put further pressure on councils and schools to tackle the problem.