64000 School Absentees every day in UK - academy status funding reforms failing academies 2011

School truancy in England climbed to a record high last autumn, statistics show.

An analysis of figures published by the Department for Education reveals that an estimated 64,000 children played truant on a typical day over the autumn term last year, compared to almost 57,200 in the same period of 2006.

The government calculates absence rates by the number of half days missed. It has only collected the data on a termly basis for five years.

The number of primary school children skipping school is particularly on the rise. The figures show they missed 0.75% of half days without their teachers' permission last autumn, compared to 0.48% in the autumn term of 2006.

Secondary pupils skipped 1.37% of half days, compared to 1.28% in 2009. The truancy rate for secondary school pupils is now the same as it was five years ago.

Labour tried to reduce truancy by prosecuting and fining parents whose children regularly skipped school. The coalition has introduced guidance that allows teachers to discipline pupils outside the school grounds. It has also asked inspectors to place a greater importance on pupils' behaviour when visiting a school.

The data shows 26,750 pupils were classified as persistent absentees -- meaning they missed one day of school every week. Some 17% of unauthorised absences were because children were on family holidays, while 6% were because children arrived late.

The authorised absence rate has fallen to 5.07% of half days from 5.2% in the autumn term of 2009.

Nick Gibb, the schools minister, said absenteeism was still "too high". "We know that children who are absent for substantial parts of their education fall behind their peers and struggle to catch up.

"Truancy is often linked to poor literacy skills -- that's why we are focusing on improving reading with synthetic phonics.

"Our education bill puts teachers back in control of the classroom so pupils can be taught without disruption and teachers have more power to tackle truancy."

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• School Absentees
• academy status funding
• failing schools