A SCHEME which sends a text message to parents when their children skip school has slashed truancy.

About 50 more pupils have been attending Queen Elizabeth School, Rochdale, each day since the introduction of the system.

The 750-pupil school, on Hollin Lane, Middleton, was put into special measures five years ago when it had truancy figures double the national average.

It is now rated as "a good and improving school".

Headteacher Eric Jackson said: "Since we started to use the system about three years ago we have seen attendance increase from about 82 per cent to about 90 per cent now.

Repeated

"At registration anyone whose name is not down goes on to a list and then the parents of everyone on the list receive a text message informing them their child is not in school. If we don't hear back, the message is repeated until we do."

The new technology is also being used as a way of communicating other news, such as the safe arrival on a field trip or the cancellation of events.

Janet Entwhistle, of Rochdale council's education welfare department, said: "If a child thinks it is acceptable to take an afternoon off school for a haircut then the chances are they will take that mentality through to the workplace.

"Part of our aim is to break the cycle so that children will see how important school is."

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