Primary school absences among worst in country

OLDHAM’s primary school absence rates are among the worst in the country.

Figures show both unauthorised and authorised absence rates last year were the fourth and sixth highest respectively in England. The authorised rate — where a pupil has permission from a teacher to be off in exceptional circumstances, or has a satisfactory reason such as illness — was 3.3 per cent in Oldham in 2014/15, compared with 3.1 per cent nationally. The unauthorised rate, where children are off without permission, was 1.1 per cent in Oldham and 0.9 per cent in England.

Oldham has 459 primary school pupils classed as persistent truants - 2.2 per cent of all pupils. And it has the fifth highest absence rate for four year olds - 6.1 per cent compared with 5.2 per cent in England.

The figures have been published at the same time as a report by the Department For Education which says missing school for just a few days can damage pupils’ chances of gaining good GCSEs.

The Government says this backs its clampdown on absence, which included changing the regulations so head teachers can grant leave from school only in exceptional circumstances.

Overall absence across state-funded primary, secondary and special schools in England has increased slightly from 4.5 per cent in 2013/14 to 4.6 per cent.

The Government says this was driven by an increase in illnesses, and that the figure has fallen from 6 per cent in 2009/2010. It is 5.4 per cent in Oldham, where the secondary school absence rate is also one of the highest.

A total of 881 secondary pupils (5.9 per cent) in the borough are also persistent truants.