Crackdown on primary truancy (From Daily Echo)
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Crackdown on primary truancy
3:12pm Friday 31st August 2012 in News
By Tom Moseley, Parliamentary Correspondent
Crackdown on primary truancy
Southampton ’s primary schoolchildren are among the worst truants in the country, new figures show.
The city’s truancy rate was the highest in the south east and behind just eight other areas in England.
But the Department for education bulletin showed a far lower rate in the Hampshire County Council area, which was at the other end of the scale.
Ministers pledged to crack down on parents who allowed their children to skive off school, including increasing the level of fines imposed, and potential docking child benefit for repeat offenders.
Across the country, around 23,500 primary schoolchildren were skipping classes every day, the figures, which relate to the 2012 spring term, revealed.
Illness was the most common reason for absence, followed by family holiday – suggesting many parents are ignoring rules to take their children on cheaper termtime breaks.
In Southampton, 1.1 per cent of primary school sessions – equal to half a day of teaching – was missed because of unauthorised absence. This was a slight increase on 1.02 for the spring term of 2011.
Nottingham had the worst record, followed by Greenwich and Birmingham.
In Hampshire, 0.4 per cent of half days were lost to truancy, a slight increase on the previous year. The national average across England was 0.7 per cent.
In the area’s secondary schools, Southampton’s truancy rate was 2.3 per cent and Hampshire’s 1.2 per cent.
As reported in the Daily Echo, more than 800 parents were fined last year because of their children's truancy, mostly in Southampton, with over 200 ending up in court.
Earlier this year, the government’s behaviour tzar Charlie Taylor said any parents who refused to pay up should be docked the benefit to give headteachers more muscle in the fight against truants.
Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: “Poor attendance at school can have a hugely damaging effect on a child's education.
Children who attend school regularly are four times more likely to achieve five or more good GCSEs, including English and maths, than those who are persistently absent.”
The Daily Echo contacted Southampton City Council , but no one was available to comment
Comments(26)
mtdiablo
says...
3:27pm Fri 31 Aug 12
How, Georgem, would shorter summer holidays stop parents taking their children away during term time?
sarfhamton
says...
3:33pm Fri 31 Aug 12
-Random inset days that don't match with other local schools
-Closing for bad weather (ie a flurry of snow)
-Strikes
Then we have an extra bank holiday for the Royal this and that.
So my kids lose a good couple of weeks a year anyway.
mtdiablo
says...
3:36pm Fri 31 Aug 12
Georgem
says...
3:42pm Fri 31 Aug 12
mtdiablo wrote:I was thinking less of preventing it, but of mitigating it. More term time == more time to catch up on missed work. But now you mention it, that's somewhat tenuous, isn't it.
The article states "Illness was the most common reason for absence, followed by family holiday – suggesting many parents are ignoring rules to take their children on cheaper termtime breaks."
How, Georgem, would shorter summer holidays stop parents taking their children away during term time?
sarfhamton
says...
3:44pm Fri 31 Aug 12
mtdiablo wrote:They can't keep having a go at hard working parents when they are always closing the schools.
Ah yes, how dare schools close for training, bad weather, and legal strike action. The scoundrels.
They only have to show the Snowman on ch4 and they would shut the school for a week.
mtdiablo
says...
4:09pm Fri 31 Aug 12
Lone Ranger.
says...
4:13pm Fri 31 Aug 12
.
Perhaps they should have contacted the former...Southampton
’s education boss, Cllr Jeremy Moulton...... as it was surely on his "watch" that the figures relate.
.
After all he seems to have the answer to everything when it comes to the current council !!!
Lone Ranger.
says...
4:14pm Fri 31 Aug 12
Dasal
says...
5:08pm Fri 31 Aug 12
I know I'll be accused of "knocking the teachers" but surely they have enough time during the school holidays to deal with these things.
I may be getting on a bit but can't ever remember my teachers having these "breaks" - mores the pity !!!
BillyTheKid
says...
5:09pm Fri 31 Aug 12
BillyTheKid
says...
5:14pm Fri 31 Aug 12
Dasal wrote:An agreement made between the government of the day and the teaching unions some years ago.
I know its "slightly off subject" but can anyone explain why teacher training or "inset days" ALWAYS occur during term time ???
I know I'll be accused of "knocking the teachers" but surely they have enough time during the school holidays to deal with these things.
I may be getting on a bit but can't ever remember my teachers having these "breaks" - mores the pity !!!
As a matter of fact, many teachers think INSET training is a waste of time and money ! I was told off once by my headteacher for commenting that I could have learned more from a book in half an hour than I did from most 6-hour INSET sessions.
Georgem
says...
5:16pm Fri 31 Aug 12
Dasal wrote:Do they only occur during term time? I'm not so sure they do. We wouldn't really notice, would we? They can't close the school down *even more* during holidays, to reflect that it's also closed for teacher training.
I know its "slightly off subject" but can anyone explain why teacher training or "inset days" ALWAYS occur during term time ???
I know I'll be accused of "knocking the teachers" but surely they have enough time during the school holidays to deal with these things.
I may be getting on a bit but can't ever remember my teachers having these "breaks" - mores the pity !!!
Dasal
says...
5:30pm Fri 31 Aug 12
Georgem wrote:Yes, they do georgem.
Dasal wrote: I know its "slightly off subject" but can anyone explain why teacher training or "inset days" ALWAYS occur during term time ??? I know I'll be accused of "knocking the teachers" but surely they have enough time during the school holidays to deal with these things. I may be getting on a bit but can't ever remember my teachers having these "breaks" - mores the pity !!!Do they only occur during term time? I'm not so sure they do. We wouldn't really notice, would we? They can't close the school down *even more* during holidays, to reflect that it's also closed for teacher training.
5 days are set aside each year - DURING TERM TIME - for INSET days. No pupils attend during these days!
Dasal
says...
5:32pm Fri 31 Aug 12
BillyTheKid wrote:Come on then Southy..............
Dasal wrote: I know its "slightly off subject" but can anyone explain why teacher training or "inset days" ALWAYS occur during term time ??? I know I'll be accused of "knocking the teachers" but surely they have enough time during the school holidays to deal with these things. I may be getting on a bit but can't ever remember my teachers having these "breaks" - mores the pity !!!An agreement made between the government of the day and the teaching unions some years ago. As a matter of fact, many teachers think INSET training is a waste of time and money ! I was told off once by my headteacher for commenting that I could have learned more from a book in half an hour than I did from most 6-hour INSET sessions.
...
Lets blame Maggie !!!!
Georgem
says...
5:36pm Fri 31 Aug 12
Dasal wrote:Do they ONLY occur during term time, I asked. As in, do teachers receive any training during the holidays also?
Georgem wrote:Yes, they do georgem.
Dasal wrote: I know its "slightly off subject" but can anyone explain why teacher training or "inset days" ALWAYS occur during term time ??? I know I'll be accused of "knocking the teachers" but surely they have enough time during the school holidays to deal with these things. I may be getting on a bit but can't ever remember my teachers having these "breaks" - mores the pity !!!Do they only occur during term time? I'm not so sure they do. We wouldn't really notice, would we? They can't close the school down *even more* during holidays, to reflect that it's also closed for teacher training.
5 days are set aside each year - DURING TERM TIME - for INSET days. No pupils attend during these days!
soobear
says...
5:48pm Fri 31 Aug 12
BillyTheKid wrote:Not quite. The law states that children should be educated to the best of their abilities. This can be done in school or can be done via home education. As long as the child is de-registered from the school via letter, and the local LEA informed, there is no problem.
The law states that children have to be in school unless there is a genuine, legal reason for them not to be there.
freemantlegirl2
says...
6:16pm Fri 31 Aug 12
I was told that my daughter had been absent/late 20 times. I went mad, grounded her for a month, took her to school myself etc and then 3 months later we got a letter apologising this was in fact wrong!1 It happened again a few months' later again, I knew for a fact she hadn't been late or off at all!! i was so angry, all I got was flim flam from the school i withdrew her. The school she's now at is far better (manage to retain their staff for starters) and there have been no recorded absences, apart from when she has genuinely been ill!
At her primary school i also got a call 3 times to say she wasnt' in school .I pointed out to them that she was i'd taken her to school myself, was frightened out of my wits the first time it happened. Got no apology they'd recorded it wrong! I am not confident these 'mistakes' are always rectified either!
Whist some parents are irresponsible and feckless the rest of us who aren't are penalised for it by shoddy treatment and incorrect data recording.
I have reported the secondary school to the Data protection officer for the council but have never had any response. Disgusting!
sass
says...
6:17pm Fri 31 Aug 12
mtdiablo wrote:How dare children stay home just because they are ill. The layabouts!
Ah yes, how dare schools close for training, bad weather, and legal strike action. The scoundrels.
BillyTheKid
says...
6:23pm Fri 31 Aug 12
soobear wrote:EOTAS ( Education Other Than At School )........"which is a genuine, legal reason for them not to be there".
BillyTheKid wrote:Not quite. The law states that children should be educated to the best of their abilities. This can be done in school or can be done via home education. As long as the child is de-registered from the school via letter, and the local LEA informed, there is no problem.
The law states that children have to be in school unless there is a genuine, legal reason for them not to be there.
IronLady2010
says...
9:01pm Fri 31 Aug 12
BillyTheKid
says...
11:06pm Fri 31 Aug 12
IronLady2010 wrote:Southy is unique.
Southy never went to school, but he knows everything, so why send people to school when Southy has proven schools aren't needed?
Cyber__Fug
says...
7:24am Sat 1 Sep 12
BillyTheKid wrote:Southy is the TUSC edkashun mynistter so should be along to comment soon :o)
IronLady2010 wrote:Southy is unique.
Southy never went to school, but he knows everything, so why send people to school when Southy has proven schools aren't needed?
BillyTheKid
says...
1:08pm Sat 1 Sep 12
Cyber__Fug wrote:Southy has posted on here more often and for longer than I can remember, and probably long before.
BillyTheKid wrote:Southy is the TUSC edkashun mynistter so should be along to comment soon :o)
IronLady2010 wrote:Southy is unique.
Southy never went to school, but he knows everything, so why send people to school when Southy has proven schools aren't needed?
He has taken more insults and abuse than anyone, and to my knowledge has never retaliated. A lot of it is just harmless jesting, but collectively, of course, it does tend to be relentless. Like many here, I have always felt compelled to resist abuse, so I feel very humbled by his resilience.
I don't say people should agree with him on everything - far from it. And he wouldn't want that. But I'm sure he wouldn't be against a little bit of encouragement now and again.
Good on yuh, Southy ! You are an industry standard, and an example to us all.
AD1974
says...
3:18pm Sat 1 Sep 12
Plus if Hampshire's parent can do it, why can't Southampton's? What's so different? Perhaps the thought is Primary education is not serious so it does not matter for their child to miss a few days?
wilson castaway
says...
9:59pm Sun 2 Sep 12
Georgem says...
3:24pm Fri 31 Aug 12
Stupendous observation there. What does he do for an encore? Tell us rain increases your chances of getting wet?
Anyway, the story isn't really about truancy, but absenteeism in general. Surely two different problems, with different ways to solve them? Maybe if we start phasing out the long summer holidays, some of these issues will go away, for starters.