ABSENCE rates in York are among the lowest in the country, according to newly-released Government figures.

Statistics released by the Department for Children, Schools and Families show that absenteeism – including truancy – continues to fall in York schools. Last year, 4.56 per cent of primary school sessions (half days) were missed. That figure was only bettered in four other local authorities in the country. York’s primary schools also had the joint best attendance figures in the Yorkshire and Humber region. The local secondary schools have also improved their absence figures with 7.27 per cent of sessions missed in the last school year. There was also a reduction in the number of pupils at secondary school who were regarded as persistent absentees, with a fall from 5.9 per cent to 5.4 per cent.

Persistent absentees are classed as students who miss 64 sessions between September and end of May. Truancy was also below both the national average and Yorkshire and Humber regional average.

Mark Smith, principal education welfare officer at City of York Council, said: “We will continue to explore how we can better support parents in fulfilling their legal duty to ensure their children receive an education, for example through the Stronger Families Programme.”