Written question asked by Lord Willetts (Conservative) on Monday, 3 December 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 5 December 2007. It was answered by Lord Brennan of Canton (Labour) on Wednesday, 12 December 2007 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Truancy

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the rate of unauthorised absence was of 15 to 16-year-olds in the latest period for which figures are available.

Answer: The readily available information relates to absence rates by national curriculum year group. In 2005/06 the unauthorised absence rate of pupils in national curriculum year group 11 (typically aged 15 at the start of the school year) was 2.43 per cent.¹.Information on absence is collected centrally for those pupils who are of compulsory school age. Absence rates for pupils who are aged 16 (at the start of the school year) are not collected centrally."¹ Across maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges and academies."

Secondary information