Truancy
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many school truancies were recorded during the last 12 months in each local education authority area; and if he will make a statement. [148311]
Jacqui Smith:
The number of half-days missed as a result of unauthorised absence (truancy) by pupils; and the percentage of those half-days missed, for each local authority area in England in 1999-2000 (the latest figures available) are shown in the table.
Although there has been some significant improvement in attendance levels, too many children are still missing school without good reason. Over half of these are primary school children, most of whom will be absent with their parents' consent. That is why, last autumn, we announced a renewed drive to tackle truancy including extra resources available to schools and LEAs to tackle poor behaviour, with truancy the top priority. £174 million will be available in 2001-02--10 times the level in 1996-97. We have also begun a co-ordinated nationwide programme of truancy sweeps to pick up youngsters who should be in school. In addition, our Excellence in Cities programme is being expanded to provide more on-site learning mentors in schools to support children with barriers to attending school and learning. We are also asking schools with above average truancy records to set new targets for attendance. On 28 February, I am giving "Truancy Buster" awards of up to £10,000 to up to 50 schools in the country which have done the most to reduce truancy. From 1 March, the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 will come into effect with higher fines for the parents of persistent truants. And from 1 April, the first Connexions Service Partnerships will start, and will give priority to improving attendance at school for all young people aged 13 and over. All these measures are designed to help schools improve attendance and learning.
26 Feb 2001 : Column: 339W
Unauthorised absence in maintained primary and secondary schools 1999-2000
| Primary schools | Secondary schools | Primary and secondary schools
|
| Number of half days missed | Percentage of half days missed | Number of half days missed | Percentage of half days missed | Number of half days missed | Percentage of half days missed
|
Barking and Dagenham | 60,889 | 1.4 | 51,301 | 1.7 | 112,190 | 1.5
|
Barnet | 34,489 | 0.5 | 58,244 | 1.1 | 92,733 | 0.8
|
Barnsley | 43,025 | 0.8 | 73,675 | 1.9 | 116,700 | 1.3
|
Bath and North East Somerset | 11,887 | 0.3 | 18,651 | 0.6 | 30,538 | 0.5
|
Bedfordshire | 18,651 | 0.3 | 49,049 | 0.5 | 67,700 | 0.4
|
Bexley | 17,859 | 0.3 | 47,779 | 1.1 | 65,638 | 0.7
|
Birmingham | 186,730 | 0.7 | 294,411 | 1.6 | 481,141 | 1.1
|
Blackburn with Darwen | 20,386 | 0.5 | 38,810 | 1.4 | 59,196 | 0.9
|
Blackpool | 27,928 | 0.8 | 43,581 | 1.9 | 71,509 | 1.3
|
Bolton | 16,947 | 0.2 | 62,595 | 1.2 | 79,542 | 0.6
|
Bournemouth | 16,373 | 0.6 | 20,435 | 0.8 | 36,808 | 0.7
|
Bracknell Forest | 5,538 | 0.2 | 14,518 | 0.9 | 20,056 | 0.5
|
Bradford | 95,943 | 0.9 | 215,869 | 2.0 | 311,812 | 1.4
|
Brent | 32,672 | 0.6 | 38,519 | 1.0 | 71,191 | 0.8
|
Brighton and Hove | 27,442 | 0.6 | 30,683 | 1.0 | 58,125 | 0.8
|
Bristol, City of | 71,390 | 0.9 | 109,706 | 2.2 | 181,096 | 1.4
|
Bromley | 25,339 | 0.4 | 30,357 | 0.6 | 55,696 | 0.5
|
Buckinghamshire | 22,132 | 0.2 | 43,218 | 0.5 | 65,350 | 0.3
|
Bury | 18,277 | 0.4 | 17,644 | 0.5 | 35,921 | 0.4
|
Calderdale | 16,945 | 0.3 | 28,219 | 0.7 | 45,164 | 0.5
|
Cambridgeshire | 46,618 | 0.4 | 67,452 | 0.8 | 114,070 | 0.6
|
Camden | 33,948 | 1.2 | 39,395 | 1.5 | 73,343 | 1.4
|
Cheshire | 52,539 | 0.3 | 88,581 | 0.7 | 141,120 | 0.5
|
Cornwall | 36,915 | 0.3 | 36,779 | 0.4 | 73,694 | 0.4
|
Coventry | 27,671 | 0.4 | 72,408 | 1.3 | 100,079 | 0.8
|
Croydon | 38,308 | 0.5 | 27,778 | 0.6 | 66,086 | 0.5
|
Cumbria | 16,335 | 0.1 | 50,995 | 0.6 | 67,330 | 0.3
|
Darlington | 5,893 | 0.2 | 28,063 | 1.6 | 33,956 | 0.8
|
Derby City | 39,697 | 0.7 | 32,464 | 0.8 | 72,161 | 0.7
|
Derbyshire | 49,783 | 0.3 | 122,584 | 0.9 | 172,367 | 0.6
|
Devon | 39,947 | 0.3 | 108,419 | 1.0 | 148,366 | 0.6
|
Doncaster | 35,533 | 0.5 | 130,278 | 2.3 | 165,811 | 1.3
|
Dorset | 20,982 | 0.3 | 41,879 | 0.5 | 62,861 | 0.4
|
Dudley | 23,145 | 0.3 | 43,310 | 0.7 | 66,455 | 0.5
|
Durham | 13,060 | 0.1 | 96,285 | 1.1 | 109,345 | 0.5
|
Ealing | 29,720 | 0.5 | 44,899 | 1.2 | 74,619 | 0.7
|
East Riding of Yorkshire | 15,019 | 0.2 | 52,312 | 0.9 | 67,331 | 0.5
|
East Sussex | 44,406 | 0.4 | 87,624 | 1.1 | 132,030 | 0.7
|
Enfield | 70,278 | 1.1 | 88,221 | 1.7 | 158,499 | 1.4
|
Essex | 101,118 | 0.3 | 200,408 | 0.9 | 301,526 | 0.6
|
Gateshead | 18,252 | 0.4 | 44,244 | 1.3 | 62,496 | 0.8
|
Gloucestershire | 32,413 | 0.3 | 47,315 | 0.5 | 79,728 | 0.4
|
Greenwich | 69,301 | 1.4 | 70,953 | 1.9 | 140,254 | 1.6
|
Hackney | 62,469 | 1.5 | 44,246 | 2.2 | 106,715 | 1.7
|
Halton | 21,724 | 0.7 | 40,320 | 1.6 | 62,044 | 1.1
|
Hammersmith and Fulham | 29,917 | 1.2 | 34,337 | 2.2 | 64,254 | 1.6
|
Hampshire | 89,534 | 0.3 | 166,787 | 0.8 | 256,321 | 0.5
|
Haringey | 88,807 | 2.0 | 69,291 | 2.3 | 158,098 | 2.1
|
Harrow | 24,764 | 0.5 | 18,796 | 0.7 | 43,560 | 0.6
|
Hartlepool | 17,207 | 0.7 | 31,726 | 1.6 | 48,933 | 1.1
|
Havering | 8,750 | 0.2 | 23,433 | 0.5 | 32,183 | 0.3
|
Herefordshire | 9,444 | 0.2 | 18,132 | 0.6 | 27,576 | 0.4
|
Hertfordshire | 70,934 | 0.3 | 123,502 | 0.6 | 194,436 | 0.5
|
Hillingdon | 55,578 | 0.9 | 59,554 | 1.4 | 115,132 | 1.1
|
Hounslow | 42,307 | 0.9 | 37,871 | 0.9 | 80,178 | 0.9
|
Isle of Wight | 3,120 | 0.2 | 23,585 | 0.7 | 26,705 | 0.5
|
Isles of Scilly | 59 | 0.1 | 23 | 0.1 | 82 | 0.1
|
Islington | 47,329 | 1.2 | 40,597 | 2.0 | 87,926 | 1.5
|
Kensington and Chelsea | 11,936 | 0.8 | 16,946 | 1.8 | 28,882 | 1.2
|
Kent | 113,697 | 0.4 | 139,685 | 0.6 | 253,382 | 0.5
|
Kingston upon Hull, City of | 49,597 | 0.8 | 136,544 | 2.9 | 186,141 | 1.7
|
Kingston upon Thames | 9,432 | 0.3 | 19,896 | 0.9 | 29,328 | 0.6
|
Kirklees | 56,235 | 0.6 | 94,521 | 1.2 | 150,756 | 0.9
|
Knowsley | 28,188 | 0.7 | 91,945 | 3.1 | 120,133 | 1.6
|
Lambeth | 47,382 | 1.1 | 20,350 | 1.0 | 67,732 | 1.1
|
Lancashire | 99,490 | 0.3 | 181,547 | 0.8 | 281,037 | 0.6
|
Leeds | 85,130 | 0.5 | 249,839 | 2.0 | 334,969 | 1.2
|
Leicester City | 38,711 | 0.5 | 92,160 | 1.9 | 130,871 | 1.1
|
Leicestershire | 22,544 | 0.2 | 140,758 | 1.2 | 163,302 | 0.6
|
Lewisham | 81,270 | 1.5 | 96,545 | 2.9 | 177,815 | 2.1
|
Lincolnshire | 42,390 | 0.3 | 95,001 | 0.8 | 137,391 | 0.5
|
Liverpool | 67,499 | 0.6 | 138,857 | 1.6 | 206,356 | 1.0
|
London, City of | 1,024 | 1.9 | 0 | - | 1,024 | 1.9
|
Luton | 25,802 | 0.5 | 29,957 | 0.9 | 55,759 | 0.7
|
Manchester | 94,704 | 0.9 | 125,859 | 1.9 | 220,563 | 1.3
|
Medway | 24,487 | 0.4 | 52,977 | 1.0 | 77,464 | 0.7
|
Merton | 21,164 | 0.6 | 38,336 | 1.7 | 59,500 | 1.0
|
Middlesbrough | 20,005 | 0.5 | 42,628 | 1.6 | 62,633 | 1.0
|
Milton Keynes | 21,588 | 0.4 | 15,988 | 0.5 | 37,576 | 0.4
|
Newcastle upon Tyne | 24,397 | 0.5 | 61,491 | 1.3 | 85,888 | 0.9
|
Newham | 112,799 | 1.7 | 138,744 | 2.7 | 251,543 | 2.1
|
Norfolk | 81,321 | 0.4 | 111,608 | 0.9 | 192,929 | 0.6
|
North East Lincolnshire | 13,357 | 0.3 | 61,350 | 1.8 | 74,707 | 1.0
|
North Lincolnshire | 7,559 | 0.2 | 34,017 | 1.1 | 41,576 | 0.6
|
North Somerset | 12,289 | 0.3 | 23,256 | 0.7 | 35,545 | 0.5
|
North Tyneside | 3,907 | 0.1 | 23,362 | 0.6 | 27,269 | 0.3
|
North Yorkshire | 18,933 | 0.2 | 48,373 | 0.5 | 67,306 | 0.3
|
Northamptonshire | 60,425 | 0.4 | 101,031 | 0.8 | 161,456 | 0.6
|
Northumberland | 6,545 | 0.1 | 32,956 | 0.4 | 39,501 | 0.3
|
Nottingham, City of | 64,112 | 0.9 | 121,271 | 2.9 | 185,383 | 1.7
|
Nottinghamshire | 65,448 | 0.4 | 198,475 | 1.3 | 263,923 | 0.8
|
Oldham | 31,354 | 0.5 | 70,778 | 1.4 | 102,132 | 0.9
|
Oxfordshire | 38,426 | 0.3 | 131,774 | 1.3 | 170,200 | 0.8
|
Peterborough, City of | 29,298 | 0.7 | 30,768 | 0.9 | 60,066 | 0.8
|
Plymouth, City of | 21,594 | 0.4 | 27,565 | 0.6 | 49,159 | 0.5
|
Poole | 14,347 | 0.5 | 11,589 | 0.6 | 25,936 | 0.5
|
Portsmouth | 31,589 | 0.8 | 54,904 | 1.8 | 86,493 | 1.2
|
Reading | 26,231 | 0.9 | 12,116 | 0.8 | 38,347 | 0.9
|
Redbridge | 41,755 | 0.8 | 28,671 | 0.6 | 70,426 | 0.7
|
Redcar and Cleveland | 7,970 | 0.2 | 37,027 | 1.1 | 44,997 | 0.6
|
Richmond upon Thames | 8,031 | 0.3 | 43,129 | 1.8 | 51,160 | 0.9
|
Rochdale | 24,480 | 0.4 | 55,914 | 1.4 | 80,394 | 0.8
|
Rotherham | 42,593 | 0.6 | 64,038 | 1.2 | 106,631 | 0.9
|
Rutland | 510 | 0.1 | 4,045 | 0.6 | 4,555 | 0.3
|
Salford | 34,118 | 0.6 | 49,408 | 1.3 | 83,526 | 0.9
|
Sandwell | 34,569 | 0.5 | 86,784 | 1.5 | 121,353 | 0.9
|
Sefton | 16,017 | 0.2 | 38,403 | 0.7 | 54,420 | 0.4
|
Sheffield | 113,920 | 1.0 | 152,458 | 1.8 | 266,378 | 1.3
|
Shropshire | 8,019 | 0.1 | 27,593 | 0.6 | 35,612 | 0.3
|
Slough | 25,687 | 0.9 | 22,578 | 1.1 | 48,265 | 1.0
|
Solihull | 11,321 | 0.2 | 23,330 | 0.5 | 34,651 | 0.4
|
Somerset | 23,354 | 0.2 | 39,978 | 0.5 | 63,332 | 0.3
|
South Gloucestershire | 18,155 | 0.3 | 58,487 | 1.4 | 76,642 | 0.7
|
South Tyneside | 5,051 | 0.1 | 14,009 | 0.4 | 19,060 | 0.3
|
Southampton | 36,341 | 0.8 | 38,365 | 1.1 | 74,706 | 0.9
|
Southend | 24,865 | 0.7 | 40,652 | 1.4 | 65,517 | 1.0
|
Southwark | 84,689 | 1.6 | 55,399 | 1.9 | 140,088 | 1.7
|
St. Helens | 9,109 | 0.2 | 35,031 | 1.0 | 44,140 | 0.6
|
Staffordshire | 39,798 | 0.2 | 86,304 | 0.5 | 126,102 | 0.4
|
Stockport | 32,670 | 0.5 | 50,048 | 1.0 | 82,718 | 0.7
|
Stockton on Tees | 6,311 | 0.1 | 23,333 | 0.6 | 29,644 | 0.3
|
Stoke on Trent | 29,378 | 0.5 | 50,435 | 1.2 | 79,813 | 0.8
|
Suffolk | 25,476 | 0.2 | 80,462 | 0.6 | 105,938 | 0.4
|
Sunderland | 12,809 | 0.2 | 57,674 | 1.0 | 70,483 | 0.6
|
Surrey | 50,539 | 0.2 | 108,267 | 0.7 | 158,806 | 0.5
|
Sutton | 14,316 | 0.4 | 13,892 | 0.4 | 28,208 | 0.4
|
Swindon | 16,281 | 0.4 | 26,873 | 0.8 | 43,154 | 0.5
|
Tameside | 13,743 | 0.2 | 51,592 | 1.1 | 65,335 | 0.6
|
Telford and Wrekin | 18,481 | 0.5 | 28,057 | 1.0 | 46,538 | 0.7
|
Thurrock | 21,849 | 0.6 | 32,237 | 1.3 | 54,086 | 0.9
|
Torbay | 7,226 | 0.3 | 21,494 | 1.0 | 28,720 | 0.6
|
Tower Hamlets | 77,542 | 1.5 | 97,731 | 2.5 | 175,273 | 2.0
|
Trafford | 12,377 | 0.2 | 31,455 | 0.7 | 43,832 | 0.5
|
Wakefield | 46,449 | 0.6 | 41,679 | 0.7 | 88,128 | 0.6
|
Walsall | 44,614 | 0.7 | 42,750 | 0.8 | 87,364 | 0.7
|
Waltham Forest | 36,280 | 0.7 | 52,773 | 1.4 | 89,053 | 1.0
|
Wandsworth | 26,960 | 0.6 | 20,973 | 0.8 | 47,933 | 0.7
|
Warrington | 13,082 | 0.3 | 20,231 | 0.5 | 33,313 | 0.4
|
Warwickshire | 20,301 | 0.2 | 61,075 | 0.7 | 81,376 | 0.4
|
West Berkshire | 7,525 | 0.2 | 10,884 | 0.4 | 18,409 | 0.3
|
West Sussex | 37,578 | 0.2 | 80,898 | 0.7 | 118,476 | 0.4
|
Westminster, City of | 19,135 | 0.9 | 63,464 | 3.1 | 82,599 | 2.0
|
Wigan | 25,307 | 0.3 | 64,573 | 1.0 | 89,880 | 0.6
|
Wiltshire | 30,471 | 0.3 | 46,427 | 0.6 | 76,898 | 0.5
|
Windsor and Maidenhead | 9,608 | 0.4 | 14,908 | 0.6 | 24,516 | 0.5
|
Wirral | 29,395 | 0.4 | 37,838 | 0.6 | 67,233 | 0.5
|
Wokingham | 10,007 | 0.3 | 10,284 | 0.4 | 20,291 | 0.3
|
Wolverhampton | 42,545 | 0.7 | 55,442 | 1.3 | 97,987 | 0.9
|
Worcestershire | 32,772 | 0.3 | 84,509 | 0.8 | 117,281 | 0.6
|
York, City of | 12,444 | 0.3 | 23,224 | 1.1 | 35,668 | 0.6
|
| | |
|
England | 5,223,695 | 0.5 | 9,164,962 | 1.0 | 14,388,657 | 0.7
|
26 Feb 2001 : Column: 345W
26 Feb 2001 : Column: 345W