Attendance in Nottingham secondary schools continues to improve, according to the latest Government figures.

Overall absenteeism has dropped significantly, to 8.8 per cent for the Autumn and Spring terms of last year, compared to 9.9 per cent for the same two terms in 2006/2007. It ranks Nottingham as the 10th most improved authority in the country for absence rates.

Persistent absenteeism, where pupils miss more than 20 per cent of their schooling, has also fallen, to 9.7 per cent. It is down almost 1.5 percentage points from last year - three times the national improvement, and ranking Nottingham the 22nd most improved authority for the persistent absence of pupils.

The national average for overall absence at secondary schools is 7.3 per cent and for persistent absenteeism is 6.4 per cent.

At primary schools, overall attendance figures, including authorised and unauthorised absence for the Autumn and Spring terms last year, was 6.6 per cent compared to the England average of 5.4 per cent. This increase of 0.16 per cent reflects a national increase in pupils absence across the country at primary schools.

A total of 4.4 per cent of Nottingham’s primary pupils were classed as persistent absentees, compared to a national figure of 2.4 per cent.

Councillor David Mellen, Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio holder for Children’s Services, said: “It is so important for children to go to school every day if they are to get the full advantages and opportunities that schools provide. The work of the City Council and City schools’ with parents and families as well as pupils themselves is crucial so that the whole family understands why it is essential to make sure children attend school.

“The City Council and City schools have procedures in place which identify pupils who are at risk of persistent absence and works closely with them and their parents at a very early stage, and this work is beginning to pay off. The figures release by the Department of Children, Schools and Families reflect the positive predictions from the City Council earlier this year about a fall in persistent absenteeism.

“Overall absenteeism varies each year depending on levels of sickness, particularly among primary school pupils. While we are looking at the increase in Nottingham for these two terms, both the City Council and City schools are working hard to bring down the number of children missing even one day at school.”