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Written question asked by Tim Loughton (Conservative) on Thursday, 14 January 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 19 January 2010. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 February 2010 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Pupils: Absenteeism

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many and what proportion of pupils (a) eligible and (b) not eligible for free school meals were classified as persistent absentees in (i) 1980 and (ii) the most recent year for which figures are available;
Answer

[holding answer 19 January 2010]: The available information is shown in the tables.The first year for which information is available on absence by pupil characteristics is 2005/06 and relates to secondary schools only. This was extended to primary and special schools in 2006/07.

Maintained primary, state-funded secondary and special schools¹, ², ³: Number and proportion of persistent absentees4 by free school meal eligibility 2007/08—In England
All pupils5
Pupil enrolments who are eligible for free school meals classified as persistent absentees Proportion of pupil enrolments who are eligible for free school meals classified as persistent absentees6 Pupil enrolments who are not eligible for free school meals classified as persistent absentees Proportion of pupil enrolments who are not eligible for free school meals classified as persistent absentees6 All pupil enrolments classified as persistent absentees7 Proportion of pupil enrolments classified as absentees6
Number/Proportion 81,880 8.2 146,330 2,7 232,810 3.6
White British5
Boys
Pupil enrolments who are eligible for free school meals classified as persistent absentees Proportion of pupil enrolments who are eligible for free school meals classified as persistent absentees6 Pupil enrolments who are not eligible for free school meals classified as persistent absentees Proportion of pupil enrolments who are not eligible for free school meals classified as persistent absentees6 All pupil enrolments classified as persistent absentees Proportion of pupil enrolments classified as absentees6
Number/Proportion 31,910 9.7 56,820 2.6 88,730 3,5
Girls
Pupil enrolments who are eligible for free school meals classified as persistent absentees Proportion of pupil enrolments who are eligible for free school meals classified as persistent absentees6 Pupil enrolments who are not eligible for free school meals classified as persistent absentees Proportion of pupil enrolments who are not eligible for free school meals classified as persistent absentees6 All pupil enrolments classified as persistent absentees Proportion of pupil enrolments classified as absentees6
Number/Proportion 30,900 9.8 58,790 2.8 89,690 3.7
¹ Includes middle schools as deemed.
² Includes maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges and academies (including all-through academies).
³ Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools.
4 Persistent absentees are defined as having 64 or more sessions of absence (authorised and unauthorised) during the year, typically over 20 per cent. overall absence rate.
5 Number of pupil enrolments in schools from start of the school year up until 23 May 2008. Includes pupils on the roll for at least one session who are aged between five and 15, excluding boarders. Some pupils may be counted more than once.
6 The number of persistent absentee enrolments expressed as a percentage of the total number of enrolments with the same characteristics.
7 Includes pupils for whom characteristic data were missing or unclassified.
Source:
School Census

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
505 c1091-4W; 312060
Session
2009-10
Related items
Truancy
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Absenteeism Pupils Truancy
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk