PRESS RELEASE : Response to figures showing fall in overall absence rate

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 26 May 2010.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said:

The fall in the overall absence rate and small fall in unauthorised absences is very welcome but the overall level of absenteeism in schools is still too high.

We need to do more to tackle the underlying factors that result in thousands of children being absent from school each day.

We are determined to help schools raise standards of behaviour and to give teachers the clear powers they need to maintain a calm and safe environment for children and staff. We need to ensure that students starting secondary school have the basic skills of reading, writing and mathematics firmly embedded so they can cope with the demands of secondary education.

Tackling absenteeism in schools is a crucial part of the government’s commitment to increasing social mobility and to ensuring every child can meet their potential.