School Absences: Coventry

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many unauthorised absences from schools in Coventry South there were in each year between 1997 and 2006. (112764)

[holding answer 8 January 2007]: The number of half days missed due to unauthorised absence in Coventry South between 1997 and 2006 is shown in the following tables.

*Half days missed in maintained primary schools*¹ *due to unauthorised absence*^{2, 3}
	Percentage
1997/98	0.4
1998/99	0.3
1999/2000	0.3
2000/01	0.4
2001/02	0.4
2002/03	0.2
2003/04	0.2
2004/05	0.2
2005/06⁴	0.2

*Half days missed in maintained secondary schools*¹ *due to unauthorised absence*^{2, 3}
	Percentage
1997/98	1.2
1998/99	1.4
1999/2000	1.2
2000/01	1.1
2001/02	0.9
2002/03	0.9
2003/04	0.8
2004/05	1.1
2005/06⁴	1.0
¹ Includes middle schools as deemed. ² Due to local government reorganisation, regional figures are not available prior to 1998. ³ Figures are only provided to 1 decimal place. ⁴ Figures for 2005/06 are provisional.

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.

Volume 455: debated on Thursday 11 January 2007