South Gloucestershire | Archive | 2006 | February | 10
From the archive, first published Friday 10th Feb 2006.
SCHOOLS in South Gloucestershire are beating the battle against truancy - bucking the national trend.
Attendance rates for schools in the area are vastly improving according to new figures released this week.
And the turn around in attendance figures has been attributed to the collaboration between local schools and the authority's education welfare service.
Cllr Sheila Cook, executive member for children and young people, said: "I firmly believe that the key to reducing truancy and non attendance is to involve the pupils in an interesting curriculum, by listening to their views and by convincing both pupils and parents of the long term benefits of committing to education.
"Taking unauthorised days off during school years will go on to promote a lack of pride and commitment in the workplace."
According to the latest DfES figures, South Gloucestershire is now in the top 25 percent of authorities nationally achieving the lowest rates of both absence and truancy.
This reduction in truancy levels in secondary schools goes against a picture of rising figures nationally.
South Gloucestershire has made significant achievements since 2004, at which time the authority was identified by the DfES as one of 56 authorities needing support to reduce truancy.
Since then a number of successful initiatives have been introduced, such as schools developing reward systems and others adopting fast track prosecution and attendance panels.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008