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Teachers (Convictions)

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers have (a) convictions, including spent convictions and (b) police cautions. [42576]

Ruth Kelly: The information is not available. There is no central record of convictions and cautions incurred by teachers.

Truanting

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils truanted for at least one day from secondary school in each academic year since 2001/02; and if she will make a statement. [40435]

 
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Jacqui Smith [holding answer 9 January 2006]: Figures are only available for pupils missing at least one half day through unauthorised absence. The information requested can be found as follows.
Number of pupils absent for at least one half day due to 'unauthorised'⁽⁴¹⁾ absence in maintained mainstream secondary schools

	Number of pupils absent
2001/02	566,644
2002/03	631,669
2003/04	696,600
2004/05	774,347

⁽⁴¹⁾Unauthorised absence is absence without leave from a teacher or other authorised representative of the school. This includes all unexplained or unjustified absences, such as lateness, holidays during term time not authorised by the school, absence where reason is not yet established and truancy. Truancy forms only one part of the unauthorised figures.

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