NEW Government figures show that the percentage of pupils persistently missing lessons in North-East and North Yorkshire schools is at a new all-time low.

The striking figures for the autumn and spring terms of 2013-14 academic year showed that 13,115 North-East school children were persistently absence, or 4.3 per cent of all pupils.

This compared with the figures for the corresponding terms in 2009 and 2010 when 24,290 pupils, or 7.9 per cent of the total, were persistently absent.

Similar figures for North Yorkshire showed that in 2013-14 the number of persistent absences stood at 2,324, or 3.4 per cent, compared with 4,305, or 6.1 per cent in 2009-10.

The figures were in line with a massive national reduction in absences with 176,850 fewer pupils persistently missing school in England compared with 2009-10. This means the overall rate of absence has dropped by more than a quarter since 2009-10 from six per cent to 4.4 per cent. This is the lowest level recorded since comparable records began in 2006.

School Reform Minister Nick Gibb said: “Missing lessons can be hugely damaging to a pupil’s education – but today’s figures show more pupils than ever before are getting the best preparation for life in modern Britain.