Set to improve attendance at our schools (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Set to improve attendance at our schools

MEASURES to improve school attendance figures are being considered by Swindon Council. Earlier this year the council celebrated its lowest truancy figures ever but has been working on a new attendance policy.

It aims to give the council the highest school attendance figures in the country by challenging and supporting schools.

It recommends a series of measures for schools to improve attendance, including using computer or radio communication systems to record attendance.

The draft policy also highlights the responsibilities of parents and carers and the role of the education welfare service, which takes referrals of pupils with poor attendance.

Figures released earlier this year showed that Swindon had dished out the highest number of £50 fines to parents in the region in the seven months since the introduction of the penalties.

A total of 26 penalty notices had been imposed on parents in the town while six prosecutions had been brought for non-payment.

The figures were the highest of any south west council and far higher than similar sized local authorities across the country.

The policy, which updates the last policy circulated to schools in April 2003, will go before the council's education partnership board at its meeting at 5.15pm on Thursday.