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27/05/2003
Tories slam government over truancy figures
The Conservative Party has claimed today that the latest figures point to a "growing culture of truancy engulfing schools", despite a £650 million high-profile government campaign.
After winning power in 1997, the Labour government pledged to slash truancy by one-third by 2002, introducing schemes such as "sweeps" by police and educational welfare teams, and "truancy-buster" awards of £10,000 for schools which achieve attendance targets - plus measures against irresponsible parents.
However, the Tories have claimed that 566,644 secondary school pupils bunked off in 2001-02 – up from 423,635 in 1996-97. In primary schools, 564,445 children played truant compared with 541,765 six years ago, the Conservatives claimed.
Shadow Education Secretary Damian Green said: "The Education Department regularly announced another new crackdown on truancy, but sadly this tough talk is not matched by results.
"We have witnessed a 25% increase in the secondary school truancy rate under Labour, yet another example of how they have failed to keep their promises on education. What schools need is a return to the power of heads to impose discipline, and an improvement in the vocational curriculum so that all children feel they are gaining something useful from every school day."
Government statistics show that every day more than 50,000 pupils miss school without permission and an estimated 7.5 million school days are missed each year through truancy.
Research shows that these children can easily be drawn into crime and anti-social behaviour and more likely to be unemployed after leaving school.
The Youth Justice MORI survey of young people 2002 shows that those who play truant are more likely to offend than those that do not, with two-thirds (65%) of truants having offended versus less than a third (30%) of those who have not played truant.
In May 2002, DfES announced a series of intensive truancy sweeps to pick children who should be in school. And in December last year, the government launched its latest round of truancy sweeps.
Tougher penalties for parents include fines of up to £2,500 and jail sentences.
(GMcG)
After winning power in 1997, the Labour government pledged to slash truancy by one-third by 2002, introducing schemes such as "sweeps" by police and educational welfare teams, and "truancy-buster" awards of £10,000 for schools which achieve attendance targets - plus measures against irresponsible parents.
However, the Tories have claimed that 566,644 secondary school pupils bunked off in 2001-02 – up from 423,635 in 1996-97. In primary schools, 564,445 children played truant compared with 541,765 six years ago, the Conservatives claimed.
Shadow Education Secretary Damian Green said: "The Education Department regularly announced another new crackdown on truancy, but sadly this tough talk is not matched by results.
"We have witnessed a 25% increase in the secondary school truancy rate under Labour, yet another example of how they have failed to keep their promises on education. What schools need is a return to the power of heads to impose discipline, and an improvement in the vocational curriculum so that all children feel they are gaining something useful from every school day."
Government statistics show that every day more than 50,000 pupils miss school without permission and an estimated 7.5 million school days are missed each year through truancy.
Research shows that these children can easily be drawn into crime and anti-social behaviour and more likely to be unemployed after leaving school.
The Youth Justice MORI survey of young people 2002 shows that those who play truant are more likely to offend than those that do not, with two-thirds (65%) of truants having offended versus less than a third (30%) of those who have not played truant.
In May 2002, DfES announced a series of intensive truancy sweeps to pick children who should be in school. And in December last year, the government launched its latest round of truancy sweeps.
Tougher penalties for parents include fines of up to £2,500 and jail sentences.
(GMcG)
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Truancy figures rise
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29 January 2004
More schools gained 'specialist' status
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16 April 2012
Truancy Fines Should Come Directly From Child Benefit - Report Says
A government advisor on school behaviour has said parents of children who are regularly play truant should have their child benefit cut. Behaviour tsar Charlie Taylor has said the cut in child-benefit should be used to directly pay truancy fines in a crackdown on absenteeism.
Truancy Fines Should Come Directly From Child Benefit - Report Says
A government advisor on school behaviour has said parents of children who are regularly play truant should have their child benefit cut. Behaviour tsar Charlie Taylor has said the cut in child-benefit should be used to directly pay truancy fines in a crackdown on absenteeism.
03 October 2003
Parents face £100 fines for truant children
Parents could face fines of up to £100 if their children persistently play truant from school, according to a consultation paper published today. Guidance to ensure effective use of new powers to tackle criminal and anti-social behaviour, and truancy and misbehaviour in schools, has been published for consultation today.
Parents face £100 fines for truant children
Parents could face fines of up to £100 if their children persistently play truant from school, according to a consultation paper published today. Guidance to ensure effective use of new powers to tackle criminal and anti-social behaviour, and truancy and misbehaviour in schools, has been published for consultation today.
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