Written question asked by John Robertson (Labour) on Thursday, 3 February 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 8 February 2011. It was answered by Nick Gibb (Conservative) on Monday, 28 February 2011 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Further Education: Absenteeism

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of students in further education were persistent absentees in each year since 2004.

Answer: [holding answer 8 February 2011]: Information on pupils who were persistent absentees is not collected for further education establishments. The Department collects information on pupil absence for pupils aged 5 to 15 at the start of the school year from maintained primary, secondary, all special schools, city technology colleges and academies.Information on absence can be found in Statistical First Release 07/2010 ““Pupil Absence in Schools in England, Including Pupil Characteristics: 2008/09”” at:"http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000918/index.shtml"

Secondary information