The Department does not hold data on pupils recorded as truant. However, the figures for the proportion of half days missed due to unauthorised absence (of which truancy forms a part) in maintained mainstream schools in Lancashire local authority are given in the following table:
Primary schools Secondary schools 1997/98 0.3 0.8 1998/99 0.4 0.9 1999/2000 0.4 0.8 2000/01 0.3 0.8 2001/02 0.34 0.82 2002/03 0.31 0.82 2003/04 0.32 0.88 2004/05 0.3 0.9 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. 2 Due to local government reorganisation, regional figures are not available prior to 1998. 3 Local authority figures are only available to 1 decimal place prior to 2000.
Unauthorised absence is absence without leave from a teacher or other authorised representative of the school. This includes all unexplained or unjustified absences, such as lateness, holidays during term time not authorised by the school, absence where reason is not yet established and truancy.