THE number of pupils skipping class in York remains low according to the latest Government figures.

Figures released by the Department of Education (DfE) show that in the autumn and spring of 2010-11 attendance in both city primary and secondary schools was excellent and above national average.

Out of 150 local authorities in the country, only four had better attendance rates over that period of time than York’s primary schools. This means York had the best attended primary schools in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

York’s secondary schools are the second best attended within the Yorkshire and Humber region. While the rate of absence at 6.09 per cent is significantly lower than the national average at 6.5 per cent.

In addition, the data shows that using the old definition of persistent absence – pupils absent for 20 per cent of the school year or more – that the figure has fallen to a low of four per cent.

Coun Ruth Potter, Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Young People’s Services at City of York Council, said: “I know that schools, parents and the council put a tremendous amount of work into encouraging and maintaining good school attendance.

“These latest figures show that that combined effort has had an impact and led to this improvement.”