ATTENDANCE by pupils at schools across York is higher than the national average.

Figures released by the Department for Education this week showed attendance at City of York Schools was 95.8 per cent last year, in comparison to the overall attendance at schools nationally of 95.4 per cent. The DfE also released data on the number of pupils they regard as persistent absentees - those missing 10 per cent or more of their scheduled lessons.

According to the new figures, 9.1 per cent of pupils in the city of York were persistently absent - lower than the national figure of 10.1 per cent.

Research by the DfE showed that for all pupils, as their overall absence increases their attainment decreases, and the 2013-14 end of Key Stage 2 tests showed pupils with no absence are more than three times likely to achieve a higher level than pupils absent for 10 to 15 per cent of their sessions.

Cllr Stuart Rawlings, City of York Council’s Executive member for education, children and young people, said the research showed the work of teachers and schools around the city was paying off.

He said: “Schools in York work hard to ensure they can help their pupils and families in overcoming any barriers to good attendance. We will continue to support the city’s pupils to ensure they are getting the benefit from the education to which they are entitled.

“These good figures demonstrate parents’ commitment to ensuring their children have access to a good education. They are also evidence of the hard work from school staff and partners such as City of York Council, health professionals and police staff.” The research also showed that at the end of Key Stage 4, when pupils sit their GCSE exams, pupils with no absence were more than twice as likely to achieve five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C.