Attendance

The data on attendance, truancy and exclusion in the data lists date from the 1995/96 academic year onwards. Prior to this, data collection systems varied and hence the resulting data is less reliable than for more recent years. Much of the information in the data lists originates from the annual census that schools perform each January. These census forms (known as Form 7) declare information on attendance and exclusion dating from the previous academic year, for example the January 2001 census will show statistics from the 1999/00 academic year.

Attendance figures refer to “authorised” and “unauthorised” absences. Authorised absences are those made with the permission of a teacher or school representative and include illnesses and medical appointments “for which a satisfactory explanation has been provided”. Unauthorised absences include “all unexplained or unjustified absences” which includes truancy. Parents may not authorise absences, only schools can do this (http://www.dfee.gov.uk/statistics/DB/SBU/b0223/index.html).

It is important to note that the law regarding school registers and absences changed in 1998 so although there is data available before that time, it is difficult to make direct comparisons. All the figures are given as percentages of half days missed; unusually, statistics are given for independent schools although they are not sub-divided into age ranges.

The data indicates that schools with high authorised absence rates are more likely to have higher unauthorised absence rates also. Some links have been made between the ethnic origin and socio-economic status of pupils and absence rates however a warning is given not to draw “superficial conclusions” from these links. Similarly there is a strong correlation between low absence rates and good exam performance (on a whole school scale, not an individual pupil scale). There is no breakdown of the statistics according to gender (http://www.dfee.gov.uk/statistics/DB/SBU/b0223/index.html).

A recent development in the government’s strategy to tackle truancy is to challenge the parents of persistent truants, ultimately using the 2000 Criminal Justice and Court Services Act to ensure that parents attend a court hearing and face an increased maximum fine of £2,500. (DfEE press notice 2000/0563 http://www.dfee.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2000_0563).

This legislation came into force in March 2001 and so far remains untested. The Statistical First Releases and Statistical Bulletins indicate that fewer pupils were permanently excluded in the 1998/99 school year than in previous years. This continues a downward trend in the number of permanent exclusions since 1995/96 although in the first half of the 1990s permanent exclusions were increasing steadily each year. In 1998/99, 83% of permanently excluded pupils were in secondary schools, 13% were in primary schools and 4% were in special schools. Nearly 80% of all exclusions were of pupils aged 12-15 years, but the most frequently recorded age of a permanently excluded pupil was 14, representing almost one third of all exclusions. Although the DfEE figures suggest that the last time a 3 year old pupil was permanently excluded was in 1995/96, there is an upward trend in the number of 4 year olds being permanently excluded (from 9 in 1995/96 to 13 in 1998/99). All other ages of pupils, from 3 to 19, are represented in the data; the distribution of other ages has remained constant reflecting the downward trend in permanent exclusions since 1995/96 (http://www.dfee.gov.uk/statistics/DB/SFR/s0157/sfr20-2000.pdf http://www.dfee.gov.uk/statistics/DB/SBU/b0209/index.html).

The indication that 83% of all permanently excluded pupils are boys has remained more or less constant across the years that data is available. Geographically, by region, London had the most permanent exclusions in 1998/99 (1,782 pupils, 0.17% of the school population). The North East had the fewest permanent exclusions with 562 pupils or 0.13% of the school population ( http://www.dfee.gov.uk/statistics/DB/SFR/s0157/sfr20-2000.pdf http://www.dfee.gov.uk/statistics/DB/SBU/b0209/index.html).

The figures also reveal that the gap between exclusions of black pupils and other pupils has narrowed although black pupils continue to be over represented in the exclusion figures. Black pupils are still three times more likely to be excluded than white pupils are; pupils of Indian, Bangladeshi or Chinese origin are least represented in these figures. (DfEE press notice 2000/0202 http://www.dfee.gov.uk/news/news.cfm?PR_ID=803).

Excluded pupils and their parents continue to have the right of appeal against the exclusion but appeals panels have received new guidance suggesting that if a Headteacher has followed agreed disciplinary procedures, panels “should not normally direct re-instatement”. (DfEE press notice 2000/0357 http://www.dfee.gov.uk/news/news.cfm?PR_ID=961).

One reason for the decline in numbers of permanently excluded pupils may be the setting up of on-site Learning Support Units in addition to the existing off-site Pupil Referral Units. The proposal is that by 2002 all permanently excluded pupils will receive full time schooling but be removed from the privileges and distractions of their former situations. In May 2000 the government pledged to spend £527,000,000 over 2 years to tackle truancy and exclusion and claimed that the money available for this area was 10 times greater in 2000/01 than in the 1996/97 school year. (DfEE press notices 2000/0202 http://www.dfee.gov.uk/news/news.cfm?PR_ID=803 and 2001/0007 http://www.dfee.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2001_0007).

In August 2000 Schools Minister Jacqui Smith said, “By 2002 all excluded pupils will be offered a full time education rather than the cursory few hours a week that was all too common in the past. Excluded pupils will continue their education rather than causing havoc on the streets”. (DfEE press notice 2000/0357 http://www.dfee.gov.uk/news/news.cfm?PR_ID=961).

April 2001