Foreword by the Secretary of State for Education and Employment

I am delighted to introduce the publication by the Department for Education and Employment of this year's pupil absence data.

We all know how vitally important it is for all registered pupils to attend school regularly if they are to make the most of the educational opportunities available to them. Pupils who fail to attend regularly can fall seriously behind, hindering the progress of the whole class.

Pupils out of school for no good reason are also directly at risk of becoming victims of crime or abuse. Some may themselves be drawn into criminal or anti-social activity.

Maintaining high levels of attendance is therefore an important task for all schools, but I recognise it is not easy. Non-attendance is a complex issue with many contributory factors and schools do not always receive the support they deserve from parents when pursuing questionable absences. The Government firmly believes that unauthorised absence from school, with its very serious educational and social consequences, is an issue for the whole community.

That is why these tables are important as a means of helping to focus attention on pupil absenteeism. I am grateful to all the schools and LEAs who assisted in their compilation.

Rt Hon Gillian Shephard MP

Secretary of State for Education and Employment