School unauthorised absences highest in Greater Manchester

The Borough of Rochdale’s primary and secondary school unauthorised absence rates are the highest in Greater Manchester.

Figures show the unauthorised absence rates last year were highest of all ten Local Authority areas that make up Greater Manchester.

The unauthorised rate, where children are off without permission, for primary school children was 1.2 per cent in the Borough compared with an average 1.0 per cent in Greater Manchester and 0.9 per cent in England as a whole.

The unauthorised rate for secondary school children was 2.2 per cent in the Borough compared with an average 1.6 per cent in Greater Manchester and 1.3 per cent in England.

Rochdale Borough has 292 primary school pupils classed as persistent truants - 1.7 per cent of all pupils.

A total of 707 secondary pupils (5.9 per cent) in the borough are also persistent truants.

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.