Parents prosecuted for kids’ truancy

SEVENTY parents in North Wales were taken to court because their child skipped school during the last year.

New figures gleaned from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request show 68 parents were successfully prosecuted by North Wales councils, in the 70 cases, for failing to ensure their children attended lessons in the 2015-16 academic year.

The majority of parents were fined, with some facing parenting orders, conditional discharges and even suspended sentences.

Parents can be prosecuted for two offences under the Education Act - one that the child has had regular unauthorised absence from school and the second that requires proof the parent has knowledge of and is the cause of the absence.

But Owen Hathway, NUT Cymru Policy Officer, said truancy could be down to poverty in some cases.

He said: “Of course, every possible measure should be pursued to avoid prosecuting parents as we know often this creates greater difficulties in the long run in relation to building community support for schools.

“If all other avenues are exhausted then prosecutions may indeed play a role but certainly each case needs to be taken on its individual merits and that action should only be taken in extreme scenarios, as it appears it has been from the FOI response.”

Wrexham Council recorded the highest figure, with 35 parents taken to court.

Denbighshire recorded the second highest figure, with 22.

In third was Conwy with eight parents taken to court for their child’s non-attendance.

Gwynedd in fourth saw three parents taken to court for their child’s non-attendance at school.

However, due to the number of children involved, the authority said a total of five separate prosecutions were undertaken with all found guilty and fined.

Anglesey council did not provide information.

Cllr Michael Williams, lead Member for children’s services and education at Wrexham Council said: “We make every effort within our available resources to make sure that children attend school as regularly as possible. Children who miss school are in danger of missing out on future employment opportunities.

“Research has shown that a student who ends the school year on 90 per cent attendance will have missed four complete weeks.”