To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of pupils enrolled at National Challenge schools were persistent absentees in the latest period for which figures are available. (268484)

There are 440 schools where fewer than 30 per cent. of pupils achieve 5 A*-C at GCSE including English and mathematics, based on validated 2008 data. In these schools 34,748 pupils, or 9.5 per cent. were persistently absent in 2007/08. National Challenge also provides bespoke support to schools deemed to be at risk of falling below the 30 per cent. benchmark. In these 545 schools 39,915 pupils, or 8.9 per cent., were persistently absent.

National Challenge is providing £400 million over three years for bespoke packages of support to meet schools’ particular needs, including tackling persistent pupil absence where this is an issue.

We are committed that by 2011 no local authority will have more than 5 per cent. of its secondary pupils as persistent absentees. Additional support is targeted at schools and local authorities with the highest proportions of persistently absent pupils to help minimise pupil absence from schools.