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Written question asked by Chris Huhne (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 12 July 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 14 July 2006. It was answered by Lord Knight of Weymouth (Labour) on Monday, 24 July 2006 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Truancy

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his most recent estimate is of the levels of truancy in secondary schools in (a) rural and (b) non-rural areas in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.
Answer

The Department does not hold data on pupils recorded as truant. However, the figures for the proportion of half days missed due to unauthorised absence (of which truancy forms a part) in maintained mainstream secondary schools in (a) rural and (b) non-rural areas in each year since 1997 are given in the table as follows:

Percentage of half days missed in maintained mainstream secondary schools¹ due to unauthorised absence²
Rural areas Non-rural areas
1997/98 0.6 1.2
1998/99 0.6 1.1
1999/2000 0.6 1.1
2000/01 0.7 1.0
2001/02 0.64 1.16
2002/03 0.64 1.14
2003/04 0.70 1.20
2004/05 0.76 1.31
¹ Includes middle schools as deemed.
² Figures are only available to 1 decimal place prior to 2001/02.

Unauthorised absence is absence without leave from a teacher or other authorised representative of the school. This includes all unexplained or unjustified absences, such as lateness, holidays during term time not authorised by the school, absence where reason is not yet established and truancy.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
85944; 449 c852W;449 c851-2W
Session
2005-06
Subjects
Truancy
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk