Figures show school absence rise

Jail helped, say truancy couple

Authorised absence from school by 11 to 15 year olds in Wales has increased for the first time since 2001, according to figures from the assembly government.

Figures also show truancy cases, or unauthorised absence, fell slightly.

Reasons for authorised absenteeism include term time holidays, various appointments and study leave.

But education minister Jane Davidson said the figures did not give her cause for concern as absences could be for valid reasons.

Statistics show that overall children in Wales are missing three weeks a year from school for absence of all kinds - and on average pupils are missing three days because of truancy.

Gareth Matthewson, head teacher of Whitchurch High School in Cardiff said absenteeism was a "major problem" for schools.

TOTAL ABSENCES 2005-6 Wales: Pupils miss 9.9% half day sessions England: 7.9% missed Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil (highest): 11.1% missed Flintshire (lowest): 8.1% missed Source: Welsh Assembly Government

"When youngsters go away on holiday and then return a week or two weeks later - there's a tremendous amount of work for them to catch up.

"It's very inconvenient for the teachers and it's very disruptive for the other pupils who have not been away."

Mr Matthewson added: "All we can do is keep emphasising to them the importance of regular attendance at school - there is a very close correlation between regular attendance and success in examinations."

The figures are published as many local authorities have signalled an increasingly tough approach to dealing with parents.

'Theatre activities'

Of Wales' 22 local authorities, 20 saw an increase in total absenteeism with only Wrexham and Rhondda Cynon Taff returning falls.

In Wales pupils missed 9.9% half day sessions - either a morning session 0900 - 1200 or afternoon session 1300 - 1500 through absenteeism.

Their English counterparts missed 7.9% half day sessions.

But Jane Davidson said it was important to remember that the rise was in "what we call the authorised absence where children might be on study leave".

"They might be at the doctor, they might be at the dentist, they might be participating in youth theatre activities," she added.

TRUANCY 2005-6 Wales: Pupils miss 1.7% of half day sessions England: 1.2% missed Cardiff (highest): 3.4% missed Flintshire (lowest): 0.4% missed Source: Welsh Assembly Government

"We're looking at these (figures) very carefully but we're not worried at this moment in time."

Wales saw a slight fall in the amount of school time missed through truancy from 1.8% of half day sessions in 2004-5 to 1.7% last year.

Again, the Wales figure was higher than England where 1.2% of all half day sessions were missed through truancy.

A survey of professionals working in the field carried out by leading truancy expert Professor Ken Reid from Swansea Institute of Higher Education, found only 4% believe jailing parents is an effective way of tackling truancy.