Written question asked by Andrew Rosindell (Conservative) on Tuesday, 25 October 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 27 October 2005. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Wednesday, 2 November 2005 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Truancy

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will increase the budget available to combat truancy from secondary schools.

Answer: Schools and local authorities have considerable resources available to them: since 1997/98, funding per pupil has increased in real terms by 36 per cent. The Department's strategy to improve school attendance is proving successful: absences from school have fallen for four consecutive years to record low levels. There are 50,000 more pupils in school each day than would be the case if absence rates were still at 2000/01 levels. Tackling truancy, particularly persistent truancy, requires carefully focused work by schools working in partnership with their local authorities and other agencies, as set out in ““Every Child Matters”” and ““Youth Matters””.In 2005/06, 450 secondary schools are receiving additional funding for measures to improve pupils' behaviour and attendance through the Behaviour Improvement Programme. In addition, we continue to support work in all parts of the country to improve attendance through funding for behaviour and attendance consultants in every local authority and the provision of expert advisers within the national strategies.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 22963; 438 c1216W;438 c1214W
Session: 2005-06
Related items: Truancy
Wednesday, 7 December 2005
Written questions
House of Commons; Truancy
Wednesday, 9 November 2005
Written questions
House of Commons; Truancy
Wednesday, 9 November 2005
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Secondary education Truancy