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Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Lord Redwood (Conservative). It was answered on Monday, 17 December 2007 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.


Unauthorised Absences

Question
Should a boy who decides to be absent from the school photograph but then turns up four hours later be punished for the unauthorised absence, or rewarded for thinking better of it?
Answer

The main problem is that the Opposition deliberately try to use the figures for unauthorised absence as a measure of truancy. I do not think that they actually believe that the two things are the same, but if they do, I wish that they would say so explicitly and publicly, so that they could be subject to the ridicule of every head teacher in the land.


Secondary information

Type
Oral question
Reference
469 c582 
Session
2007-08
Oral question type
Supplementary
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Absenteeism Pupils Schools Truancy
Link
View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk