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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Pupil attendance plans unveiled | Pupil attendance plans unveiled |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Guidance aimed at improving school attendance is to be put out for consultation by the Scottish Executive. | Guidance aimed at improving school attendance is to be put out for consultation by the Scottish Executive. |
| The draft document follows a review of how parents are notified of children's absence in light of the death of West Lothian boy Rory Blackhall. | The draft document follows a review of how parents are notified of children's absence in light of the death of West Lothian boy Rory Blackhall. |
| The 11-year-old was found murdered three days after failing to turn up for school in August 2005. | The 11-year-old was found murdered three days after failing to turn up for school in August 2005. |
| New Scottish Executive figures showed that 2% of Scotland's pupils are responsible for half of all truancy. | New Scottish Executive figures showed that 2% of Scotland's pupils are responsible for half of all truancy. |
| The executive report showed that of 700,000 pupils on state school rolls, less than 10% were persistent truants. | The executive report showed that of 700,000 pupils on state school rolls, less than 10% were persistent truants. |
| However, truanting accounted for 5,000 absences a day from 2005-2006. | However, truanting accounted for 5,000 absences a day from 2005-2006. |
| The number of children turning up regularly has remained about the same over the past two years, with just over 93% of Scotland's school children attending most of the time. | The number of children turning up regularly has remained about the same over the past two years, with just over 93% of Scotland's school children attending most of the time. |
| Term holidays | Term holidays |
| Sickness was reported as the main reason for absence, with about 22,700 pupils off sick on any one day. | Sickness was reported as the main reason for absence, with about 22,700 pupils off sick on any one day. |
| The report also showed that the number of pupils who took holidays in term time had risen slightly, although overall attendance at classes was up marginally over the previous year. | The report also showed that the number of pupils who took holidays in term time had risen slightly, although overall attendance at classes was up marginally over the previous year. |
| A total of 32,000 pupils (5% of the total school roll in Scotland), recorded a 100% attendance in the year. | A total of 32,000 pupils (5% of the total school roll in Scotland), recorded a 100% attendance in the year. |
| Primary schools had the best record, with 95% of all eligible pupils turning up at school regularly, the same as in the previous year. | Primary schools had the best record, with 95% of all eligible pupils turning up at school regularly, the same as in the previous year. |
| Attendance decreased steadily in the early years of secondary school, rising slightly in S5 and S6. | Attendance decreased steadily in the early years of secondary school, rising slightly in S5 and S6. |
| There has been a lot of good work in councils recently to build on and improve attendance at school Councillor Charlie GrayCosla | There has been a lot of good work in councils recently to build on and improve attendance at school Councillor Charlie GrayCosla |
| There was little difference in the rates between boys and girls, but the report showed that boys had a better attendance record after S4. | There was little difference in the rates between boys and girls, but the report showed that boys had a better attendance record after S4. |
| The executive proposals for improving attendance include measures for strengthening links between absence and child protection. | The executive proposals for improving attendance include measures for strengthening links between absence and child protection. |
| The document, launched by Education Minister Hugh Henry, also looks at ways to address the wider reasons for absence from school. | The document, launched by Education Minister Hugh Henry, also looks at ways to address the wider reasons for absence from school. |
| Mr Henry said: "The draft guidance published today draws together best practice and clarifies requirements for recording attendance and absence. | Mr Henry said: "The draft guidance published today draws together best practice and clarifies requirements for recording attendance and absence. |
| "Just as importantly, we're also making stronger links between absence and protection of children, ensuring schools take immediate action when a child fails to turn up at school without explanation." | "Just as importantly, we're also making stronger links between absence and protection of children, ensuring schools take immediate action when a child fails to turn up at school without explanation." |
| Rory Blackhall's death led to a nationwide pilot early warning system of calls and texts to parents whose children are missing from class. | Rory Blackhall's death led to a nationwide pilot early warning system of calls and texts to parents whose children are missing from class. |
| Parents can be warned about absences via mobile phone | Parents can be warned about absences via mobile phone |
| Executive funding of £740,000 has enabled an automated system to be set up in about 600 schools with the secondary schools involved recording a small improvement in attendance rates. | Executive funding of £740,000 has enabled an automated system to be set up in about 600 schools with the secondary schools involved recording a small improvement in attendance rates. |
| The Scottish National Party's Fiona Hyslop said her party would be closely monitoring the automated system to "ensure it is comprehensively rolled out". | |
| She added: "It seems to be left to individual schools to decide whether or not to implement this and I will be asking the minister to report to parliament on its progress." | |
| Eastwood High School in Newton Mearns is one of the schools with an automated system. | Eastwood High School in Newton Mearns is one of the schools with an automated system. |
| Text message | |
| Headteacher Stuart Maxwell told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme how the system works. | Headteacher Stuart Maxwell told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme how the system works. |
| He said parents are expected to contact the school before 1000 GMT on the first day of absence. The messages are then matched to details in the electronic register. | He said parents are expected to contact the school before 1000 GMT on the first day of absence. The messages are then matched to details in the electronic register. |
| If there are any discrepancies, a text message is automatically sent to the child's parents. The system also picks up on pupils who leave school during the day. | If there are any discrepancies, a text message is automatically sent to the child's parents. The system also picks up on pupils who leave school during the day. |
| "There are always situations where perhaps a pupil hadn't made it to the correct class and we have the odd angry parent saying we have contacted them unnecessarily," Mr Maxwell said. | "There are always situations where perhaps a pupil hadn't made it to the correct class and we have the odd angry parent saying we have contacted them unnecessarily," Mr Maxwell said. |
| "On the other hand, in terms of pupil safety, most parents accept that the system is particularly rigorous." | "On the other hand, in terms of pupil safety, most parents accept that the system is particularly rigorous." |
| 'Major step' | 'Major step' |
| Mr Maxwell said attendance had improved at the school since the system was introduced and added that the tragedy in Livingston showed systems must be in place to make sure pupils remain safe. | Mr Maxwell said attendance had improved at the school since the system was introduced and added that the tragedy in Livingston showed systems must be in place to make sure pupils remain safe. |
| "This is a major step in that direction," he added. | "This is a major step in that direction," he added. |
| Cosla education spokesman, Councillor Charlie Gray, welcomed the consultation. | Cosla education spokesman, Councillor Charlie Gray, welcomed the consultation. |
| He said: "There has been a lot of good work in councils recently to build on and improve attendance at school. | He said: "There has been a lot of good work in councils recently to build on and improve attendance at school. |
| "New technology provides instant mechanisms for alerting parents and carers to any unexplained absence and many schools have used this to great effect." | "New technology provides instant mechanisms for alerting parents and carers to any unexplained absence and many schools have used this to great effect." |
| The consultation on the document, Engaged and Involved, runs until 27 February. | The consultation on the document, Engaged and Involved, runs until 27 February. |