Truants to be named and shamed to raise school attendance

CHILDREN who play truant are to be named on an official register as part of plans to boost school attendance.

The move, due to be announced in the Queen’s Speech, will see youngsters put on compulsory registers to find those who are not getting a fulltime education.

Boris Johnson said: “I want every parent across the country to know that their child’s education is at the very heart of this Government’s agenda.

“We are determined to raise standards in our schools so every child has access to the same opportunities wherever they live, and our brilliant teachers are supported to do what they do best, which is why we’re putting our education ambition into law this week.

“By giving every child a good education, we’re giving them the opportunity to thrive so they can reach their full potential ... this is absolutely vital to our levelling up mission.”

In March last year it was revealed that more than one in 10 secondary school pupils had been absent since they reopened after lockdown, suggesting older students were unwilling to return to the classroom.

The 9 per cent of missing students was roughly double the usual rate of 4.5 per cent of the school population.

It comes after the Department for Education issued new powers for local authorities to use the proceeds of school absence fines to fund their attendance support services. Fines currently stand at £60 for each parent, rising to £120 if the sum is not paid within 21 days.

Fines will be used by schools to fund services to prevent truancy, whereas previously fines were only used to help fund further fines or prosecutions.

Local education authorities have also been asked to “rigorously track” data of children’s attendance at both school and with social services.

Nadhim Zahawi, the Education Secretary, has previously told councils to warn parents of the “repercussions” for children missing school.

Further measures in the Bill include giving Ofsted powers to crack down on unregistered schools and extra muscle to investigate teacher misconduct.

Mr Zahawi said: “Schools’ approach to attendance is being overhauled to make sure every child gets the benefit of every possible hour in the classroom.

“We want every school to be part of an academy trust, enabling teachers to focus on what they do best – meeting the needs of every child.

“Schools’ approach to attendance is being overhauled to make sure every child gets the benefit of every possible hour in the classroom.”

‘Our approach to attendance is being overhauled to make sure every child gets every possible hour in class’