HALTON has the fourth-highest rate of unauthorised absences in secondary schools in the North West. And a quarter of all days missed by pupils in Halton’s secondary schools were unauthorised, according to newly-released Government figures. It is the equivalent of two youngsters in each class skipping a day’s school every week. Preliminary figures from the Department for Children, Schools and Families show that 66,000 school days were missed during the spring term in Halton’s primary and secondary schools. Between January 3-March 30 this year, more than 13,000 days were missed because of truancy. In a standard Halton secondary school class of 21 pupils, on average nine pupils missed a day’s schooling every week in the spring term, and one in four absences were unauthorised. The figures for primary schools, where the average class has 24 pupils, are much lower. On average seven children missed a day’s schooling each week and about one in 10 were unauthorised. 2005-06 saw a significant fall in the number of unauthorised absences in secondary schools, from 2.74% in 2004-05 to 1.87% of the total number of days. Although the summer term rates have not yet been published by the Government, council figures have unauthorised absence in secondary schools at 2.1% for the whole year. That shows a rise from the previous year when the level was 1.87%. The Government figures, which break down attendance levels by term for the first time, show considerable variation. Unauthorised absences in the autumn term were just 1.64%, but rose to 2.39% in spring. Absences that are categorised as being unauthorised include when no reason is given by parents, severe lateness and family holidays which had not been agreed by the school. alex.turner | 
