In law, parents of children of compulsory school age (5 - 16) are required to ensure that they receive a suitable education by regular attendance at school or otherwise. Failure to comply with this statutory duty can lead to prosecution. Local Education Authorities (LEAs) are responsible in law for making sure that pupils attend school.

Schools are required to take attendance registers twice a day: once at the beginning of the morning session and once during the afternoon session. In their register schools are required to distinguish whether pupils are present, engaged in an approved educational activity*, or are absent.

Where a day pupil of compulsory school age is absent, schools have to indicate in their register whether the absence is authorised by the school or unauthorised.

The tables in this booklet show the following for day pupils of compulsory school age:

• levels of authorised and unauthorised absence from maintained primary schools (including middle schools deemed primary) in each Local Education Authority area;

• levels of authorised and unauthorised absence from maintained secondary schools (including middle schools deemed secondary) in each Local Education Authority area; and

• the national picture, broken down by different types of school. Authorised absence is absence with permission from a teacher or other authorised representative of the school. This includes instances of absences for which a satisfactory explanation has been provided (for example illness).

Unauthorised absence is absence without permission from a teacher or other representative of the school. This includes all unexplained or unjustified absences. The tables show the percentage of half days missed due to authorised and unauthorised absence in the 1998/99 school year up to and including 28 May 1999. To put these figures in context, the tables also include the average number of half days missed per absent pupil.

Number of day pupils of compulsory school age means day pupils of compulsory school age (5 - 16) in responding schools.

LEAs are listed alphabetically. For purposes of comparison average figures for different types of school are given at the end of this booklet.

You can get extra copies of this booklet, free of charge by contacting the address given on the back cover.



* Following a change in registration law, approved and supervised educational activities conducted away from the school site (for example work experience and educational trips and visits) no longer constitute authorised absence. For the purposes of these tables, they are deemed equivalent to present.