BIG RISE IN LOCAL TRUANCY FINES SHOWS GOVERNMENT'S STRATEGY IS FAILING
July 6, 2009 5:57 PM
The Government's policy of fining and prosecuting the parents of persistent truants has failed to reduce the number of pupils skipping lessons in Greater Manchester, according to Hazel Grove MP Andrew Stunell.
The figures released to Mr Stunell in a parliamentary answer showed that since 2002 1,699 parents have received substantial fines from the Police and been subject to criminal proceedings for failing to ensure their child's attendance at school. The number has more than trebled from 158 in 2002 to 586 in 2007, the most recent year figures were available.
Meanwhile, figures from the Department for Children, Schools and Families show high levels of "persistent absence" across the area. One child in every fourteen in Stockport is "persistently absent", while in Manchester this figure rises to one in every eight. Mr Stunell wants to see these rates brought under control.
Commenting, Andrew Stunell said:
"Children are missing out on their life chances here, and sometimes their parents just don't seem to get it.
"We need to ensure our children are happy at school and enjoying their experience, whilst also learning skills for the future. Delivering this will help to bring truancy rates down.
"But parents must also take responsibility for their children's behaviour and attendance and they have an obligation to ensure their child attends school. A community-wide approach involving parents, police and local welfare officers would be much more effective than the current measures. "
ENDS
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