Blitz on 5,000 school truants

Exclusive: Yakub Qureshi

February 16, 2010

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Truancy officers will knock on 5,000 doors across Manchester in a 'back-to-basics' blitz on stay-away pupils.

The get-tough approach will see council workers target individual schools and quiz parents as soon as their children miss a day's lessons.

They will be warned they could face £100 on-the-spot fines or court action.

Manchester has the worst attendance record in the country despite £500m being spent rebuilding or refurbishing schools and a series of high-profile incentive schemes to get children into classes.

The new crackdown is part of a 'zero-tolerance' policy that has seen the number of spot-fines handed out to the parents of absent pupils DOUBLE in the last year.

Some 489 truancy penalties have been issued since last April – compared to 243 in the previous 12 months, the M.E.N has learned.

Manchester has been rock bottom of the national school attendance tables for several years.

A total of 10 per cent of all lessons in secondary schools are missed.

The latest government figures show nearly 11 per cent pupils aged 11-16 are classed as repeat offenders.

And one school – North Manchester High for Boys – had the worst truancy record in the country, with 27.1 per cent of pupils missing one-fifth of lessons.

Former education chief Mick Waters introduced a number of schemes to try to tackle the problem – including the 'Be There Lottery', in 2004, which offered prizes worth a total of £3,000 a week to children who regularly turned up at school.

Frustrated

Political leaders in Manchester are understood to be frustrated at the lack of significant progress.

The latest approach will see a squad of education officers carrying out daily-spot checks on selected primary and high schools.

They will then go the homes of absentees – accompanied by Police Community Support Officers, teachers and community wardens – to quiz families.

Jenny Andrews, Manchester's head of education services, said: "They are going to the front door and finding out why the child hasn't been in school that day.

“In some cases it might have been a one-off absence but we will still use the opportunity to explain there are no excuses.

"Teachers from schools are coming with us to the doorstep as well as other council staff who work in the communities, so there is a familiar face for parents.

"The blitz is not instead of the long-term work that is going on.

“Schools must still reach out to families and address issues which prevent pupils from coming in."

The council plans to visit a total of 5,000 homes by the end of March.

As part of the crackdown, 3,000 families whose children were missing seven or more days last term received letters warning they faced fines or court appearances if their children did not attend.

Hard-hitting posters have also gone up in the city warning parents against taking term-time holidays.

One billboard depicts an empty airport departure lounge under the caption: "Taking off in term-time could land you with a fine."

Rules

Ms Andrews said clearer guidance was being issued to headteachers on dealing with parents who request term-time breaks.

She added: "There is very clear rules about parents taking extended holidays during term. Allowing families to do this must be the exception rather than the norm.

“We want there to be a consistent approach across all our schools."

Last month, Manchester Council became the first major authority to sign a deal with Sir Bob Geldof's telecoms firm Groupcall to provide anti-truancy equipment to all city schools.

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Hamish Macbeth, Whitefield (16/02/2010 at 08:56)

Excellent news - children should be in school learning not wandering the streets.
Perhaps next we could target "teacher training days" in termtime..... and sending children home when the school boiler isnt working....... what is wrong with teachers getting trained in the very generous holidays - and the children sticking a coat on in class !!!

Mark,Radcliffe. (16/02/2010 at 09:08)

Or the message could just be lost....during half-term.

Proper Sentences (16/02/2010 at 09:27)

A few problems with this hair brain idea, one the door may not be opened due to no one being at home or because the occupiers choose not to open it, secondly a fair % will be generally ill and how are the cops going to prove otherwise, thirdly how much will it all cost and fourthly while it is going on crime will be committed and there will be no available Police to deal with it

Mark,Radcliffe. (16/02/2010 at 10:10)

Is this for the benefit of the children,or to justify the existence of a Council department.MEN article 17/12/09 reported St.Peter's in Gorton had an appalling truancy record and turned it around by employing a full-time attendance officer.So the solution is out there,it just isnt a revenue stream for the Council..And dragging a teacher out of school to do address checks,will probably be to the detriment of those students in school.

Mike S, Manchester (16/02/2010 at 10:22)

Does education officer = PCSO with no actual powers to do anything about any truancy he may encounter?

Anthony , Accrington,Lancashire (16/02/2010 at 10:39)

When I was a kid in the 70's and 80's you never went on holidays in termtime, breaks in the hols was all you got and the only choice. Parents and families who go on hols in termtime are chavs who think they can do whatever they like and stuff education!

Anthony , Accrington,Lancashire (16/02/2010 at 10:59)

Proper sentences,how can a kid be ill out shopping with parents or out on a coachtrip or going on holiday in termtime or looking after younger siblings at home or just wacking it for nothing? Some parents come up with ANY excuse to keep kids at home and these parents should face jail and remove childbenefits.

Ran Droid, Manchester (16/02/2010 at 11:00)

Cheaper idea.

Junior doesn't go to school, parents lose child benefits.

Somehow I think that'll be more of a stick than a hobby bobby wagging their fingers at them...

Proper Sentences (16/02/2010 at 11:21)

Anthony accrington, if they are out or on a coach trip they wont be in when the cops call at the house will they, did you not attend school , if they are stopped by a Police officer outside they will claim they were on their way to the doctors or chemists, I am all for sorting out truants but not in this way it costs too much and doesn't achieve results, the best way to make sure a kid attends school is if they are caught and are clearly truant as opposed to ill deduct money from their parents benefits or wages this way the parent will wake up and ensure attendance is assured.

Proper Sentences (16/02/2010 at 11:22)

It would be a good idea also to spot visit colleges who are always cancelling lessons and letting pupils home early. Ashton 6th form college is one I know my friends son attends there and is always claiming that lessons are cancelled. Hope OFSTED see this

Anthony , Accrington,Lancashire (16/02/2010 at 11:46)

I DID attend school propersentences,like I say I only went on hols in schoolholidays like all should do.

Mark,Radcliffe. (16/02/2010 at 13:35)

'Parents and families who go on holiday in termtime are chavs...' Anthony,taking a child out of school during termtime for a break to say the Far East,as opposed to letting them go on the school-trip skiing.Would you see that as chavvy or giving the child a form of education the school is not providing ?

Mrs Jammy, Sitting on the settee (16/02/2010 at 13:39)

Some families can only afford to go away during term time as the prices are so much cheaper than they are during the school holidays. And the nature of some peoples jobs mean that term time is the only time that they can go away.

When I was young I went away during term time as that was the only time my parents could go away, and rather than missing out on learning I actually learnt a lot about the country we were in, and was able to teach my classmates some things on my return.

While I don't agree with kids having days off to go shopping with their parents, I don't see the harm of taking holidays during term time, as sometimes they can be beneficial to their learning.

Anthony , Accrington,Lancashire (16/02/2010 at 13:43)

I'd rather they went on school ski-ing trips etc in school time and learning rather than missing 2 weeks essential education

Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (16/02/2010 at 13:49)

Here's a novel idea, reintroduce the slipper / strap / cane in schools and then ask parents do you want to pay a £100 fine or shall we just give the truant the cane or strap. I can imagine what some of the parents would choose if it meant losing their benefits / beer money.

Anthony , Accrington,Lancashire (16/02/2010 at 13:49)

Taking two weeks out to go on holiday IS chavvy, two weeks examwork missed is two weeks TOO MUCH-the catching up would be horrendous.

CommonSense, Manchester (16/02/2010 at 13:52)

I've said it before and I'll say it again - The classroom isn't the only place where learning takes place. A holiday abroad can be an invaluable experience and depending how far away the destination is - a few extra days off of school before half term seems acceptable. Also, families are spread further and further across the world these days and there may be situations where the family needs to be together - situations such as this don't follow school schedules. I think there is a big difference between a family going away on holiday together vs. kids who are skipping school and the parents have no idea where their kids are.

Anthony , Accrington,Lancashire (16/02/2010 at 14:08)

Commonsense,only people like you would advocate missing essential schoolwork for two weeks then catching up hurriedly and losing out

Blunt (16/02/2010 at 14:10)

I've said it before and I'll say it again - The classroom isn't the only place where learning takes place. A holiday abroad can be an invaluable experience and depending how far away the destination is - a few extra days off of school before half term seems acceptable.
CommonSense, Manchester
16/02/2010 at 13:52 Offensive or Inappropriate?

Since when was lying by a pool for two weeks in Benidorm, surrounded by people who only speak English, educational?

Anthony , Accrington,Lancashire (16/02/2010 at 14:15)

Exactly Blunt! Sitting on a beach for two weeks with Mum and Dad/brother and sisters and family in Turkey with people who speak no english is hardly educational at all.

Mike S, Manchester (16/02/2010 at 14:24)

Blunt - that's a bit harsh. Personally I think learning how to order a couple of alcopops for your mum and her latest squeeze from the all-inclusive bar by the pool is an invaluable skill for later life...

CommonSense, Manchester (16/02/2010 at 14:25)

Not everyone goes to Benidorm and even so there are lots of historical and interesting sites to visit in the area! And, I said a few days plus half term - not two full weeks out of school.

Irlam is Red not Blue, support your local team!!, Irlam, Manchester (16/02/2010 at 14:27)

I see we have the usual argument about talking pupils on holiday in term time.

Try taking a holiday in the UK in the school holiday period instead on abroad. .

If you take your children out of school for 2 weeks every year they miss ½ a school year over their school life.

What a poor lesson some parents are giving their children, I bet they are the same people who think they are entitled to 2 weeks on the sick from year from work as well.

Anthony , Accrington,Lancashire (16/02/2010 at 14:45)

If parents and families can take their kids out of school for two weeks holiday in school term time, then they are either:
(a)benefit earning workshy cultured chavs who do this deliberately to go away to Europe and smoke weed/drink beer/go partying and don't give two f*cks about their children's education,
or (b)they are utter morons who think holidays are more important than their children's education.

If your children don't get the education they need, they won't get the qualifications and grades they need either that are required for many jobs and good employment in later life and will follow their parents in sitting at home refusing to go work earning benefit and being a total wally.

Mark,Radcliffe. (16/02/2010 at 15:04)

'I'd rather they went on school-skiing trips in school time and learning"...well Anthony,instead of being on school-skiing trips learning how not to fall over in snow,with two planks strapped to your feet.I'd rather keep my child off for 2 weeks and take them half way round the world to learn about wholly different cultures,than some chavvy ski-resort.

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