School absentee figures cut by half

6:33pm Friday 9th May 2008

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THE number of persistently absent school pupils in Darlington has fallen by half, it has been revealed.

New figures show that the number of pupils persistently absent from school officially classed as those who are absent for more than 63 sessions during the autumn term fell from 201 in 2006 to 102 last year.

The number of pupils at risk of becoming persistent absentees those absent for more than 27 sessions in the same period fell by about a fifth from 939 to 702.

The reduction in the number of children missing school means Darlington has moved up a national league table of education authorities to 49 out of 150.

Darlington Borough Council education welfare officers have been working with all secondary schools to reduce the number of children who are persistently absent.

They hold individual case conferences where parents work with the school to create a tailored action plan for their child.

This model is recommended by the Governments Department for Schools, Children and Families for schools identified as needing action to tackle persistent absentees.

The policy has been adopted at all secondary schools in Darlington and a similar scheme is expected to be used in all primary schools by next year.

Schools have also introduced their own competitions to encourage pupils to attend school.

Coun Chris McEwan, cabinet member for childrens services, said: It is great to see this massive improvement in school attendance in the borough. Well done to the schools, the staff, the pupils and their parents.

Making sure children and young people attend school is vitally important and is something we are working hard to improve. The work will continue and I expect to see even better figures in the future.