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Information and public services for the Island of Jersey

L'înformâtion et les sèrvices publyis pouor I'Île dé Jèrri

Truancy data by school 2011 to 2014 (FOI)

Truancy data by school 2011 to 2014 (FOI)

Produced by the Freedom of Information office
Authored by States of Jersey and published on 30 March 2015.
Prepared internally, no external costs.

​​​​Request

A.

Please can you provide a school year by school year breakdown of truancy in each of the Island's schools for the past three years. That should include the total number of pupils truant in each school, and the total number of days each of those pupils was truant.

B.

Additionally, please could you offer a commentary of action taken to reduce truancy, including, for example, the intervention of outside agencies to force parents to bring their child to school.

Response

A.

From data held within the schools management information system, it isn't possible to determine the number of sessions missed due to ‘truancy’ per se. 

However, it is possible to report on the number of sessions missed due to ‘unauthorised absence’.

Unauthorised absence include:

• family holidays (NOT agreed or days in excess of agreement)
• no reason provided for absence
• late (pupils arrives after the register is closed)
• unauthorised absence (not covered by any other code / description)

The table below shows the number of half-day sessions (attendance / absence is recorded for each pupil in the morning and afternoon of school day) missed due to unauthorised absence and the total number of pupils that missed at least one session due to unauthorised absence.

The percentage of sessions missed due to unauthorised absence is also shown. 

Information is broken down by school and by academic year; 2011 / 2012 to 2013 / 2014. 

The total number of half day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence and the number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence are not directly comparable between schools due to differences in pupil numbers. 

Therefore, the total number of pupils in each school and total number of half day sessions available are also provided for reference.

Data provided represents all pupils of compulsory school age (reception to year 11).

Not all half-day sessions missed relate to full sessions; if a pupil arrives to class late, ie after the register has closed, this is also included under unauthorised absence.

For the purposes of disclosure control, any cell that represents less than 10 pupils has been replaced with an X.

Primary schools 

School

Indicator

2011 / 12

2012 / 13

2013 / 14

Bel Royal Primary School

Total number of pupils

169

180

183

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

28

41

38

Number of half-day sessions missed

48

86

94

Total number of half-day sessions

60,206

63,605

67,053

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.08

0.14

0.14

d'Auvergne Primary School

Total number of pupils

336

350

373

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

63

78

64

Number of half-day sessions missed

149

229

241

Total number of half-day sessions

124,805

116,691

124,632

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.12

0.20

0.19

First Tower Primary School

Total number of pupils

367

377

384

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

54

66

50

Number of half-day sessions missed

168

220

152

Total number of half-day sessions

130,526

127,088

128,177

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.13

0.17

0.12

Grands Vaux Primary School

Total number of pupils

154

158

165

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

20

36

50

Number of half-day sessions missed

39

130

188

Total number of half-day sessions

48,836

49,747

53,602

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.08

0.26

0.35

School

Indicator

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

Grouville Primary School

Total number of pupils

362

365

371

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

72

61

45

Number of half-day sessions missed

229

140

113

Total number of half-day sessions

138,419

135,905

135,462

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.17

0.10

0.08

Janvrin Primary School

Total number of pupils

352

363

381

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

132

95

102

Number of half-day sessions missed

694

626

601

Total number of half-day sessions

134,494

119,315

125,157

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.52

0.52

0.48

Jersey College for Girls Prep School

Total number of pupils

375

374

374

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

51

41

102

Number of half-day sessions missed

291

169

484

Total number of half day sessions

138,870

136,437

139,786

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.21

0.12

0.35

La Moye Primary School

Total number of pupils

313

311

312

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

64

81

91

Number of half-day sessions missed

377

574

486

Total number of half-day sessions

119,506

115,277

119,474

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.32

0.50

0.41

School

Indicator

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

Les Landes Primary School

Total number of pupils

166

173

184

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

24

19

10

Number of half-day sessions missed

48

38

36

Total number of half-day sessions

60,875

58,669

62,838

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.08

0.06

0.06

Mont Nicolle Primary School

Total number of pupils

170

177

182

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

25

25

15

Number of half-day sessions missed

113

46

42

Total number of half-day sessions

63,178

64,687

71,237

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.18

0.07

0.06

Plat Douet Primary School

Total number of pupils

312

317

328

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

63

61

55

Number of half-day sessions missed

280

205

153

Total number of half-day sessions

120,122

123,076

131,237

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.23

0.17

0.12

Rouge Bouillon Primary School

Total number of pupils

363

371

379

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

 

111

 

106

 

124

Number of half-day sessions missed

441

543

706

Total number of half-day sessions

130,026

132,960

138,872

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.34

0.41

0.51

School

Indicator

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

Samares Primary School

Total number of pupils

235

248

256

No. of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

39

47

71

Number of half-day sessions missed

124

107

271

Total number of half-day sessions

79,588

83,276

89,142

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.16

0.13

0.30

Springfield Primary School

Total number of pupils

183

187

190

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

27

35

53

Number of half-day sessions missed

92

97

279

Total number of half-day sessions

63,605

65,203

67,450

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.14

0.15

0.41

St Clement's Primary School

Total number of pupils

178

183

189

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

12

18

14

Number of half-day sessions missed

200

62

50

Total number of half-day sessions

67,071

66,477

67,470

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.30

0.09

0.07

St John's Primary School

Total number of pupils

171

172

177

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

11

13

18

Number of half-day sessions missed

16

16

28

Total number of half-day sessions

62,560

59,754

64,681

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.03

0.03

0.04

School

Indicator

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

St Lawrence Primary School

Total numer of pupils

175

178

186

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

11

37

50

Number of half-day sessions missed

28

99

122

Total number of half-day sessions

65,579

63,069

67,625

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.04

0.16

0.18

St Luke's Primary School

Total number of pupils

177

184

187

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

33

39

25

Number of half-day sessions missed

108

116

103

Total number of half-day sessions

65,640

64,995

68,003

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.16

0.18

0.15

St Martin's Primary School

Total number of pupils

179

182

186

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

x

x

x

Number of half-day sessions missed

38

9

17

Total number of half-day sessions

68,587

66,030

67,271

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.06

0.01

0.03

St Mary's Primary School

Total number of pupils

148

153

152

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

x

14

x

Number of half-day sessions missed

26

29

16

Total number of half-day sessions

61,117

58,098

62,245

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.04

0.05

0.03

School

Indicator

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

St Peter's Primary School

Total number of pupils

178

184

194

No. of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

23

23

21

Number of half-day sessions missed

37

52

37

Total number of half-day sessions

67,046

68,341

73,110

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.06

0.08

0.05

St Saviour's Primary School

Total number of pupils

179

191

196

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

32

28

18

Number of half-day sessions missed

89

51

43

Total number of half-day sessions

68,093

67,504

70,033

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.13

0.08

0.06

Trinity Primary School

Total number of pupils

165

167

175

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

x

x

x

Number of half-day sessions missed

7

25

12

Total number of half-day sessions

60,825

61,512

68,264

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.01

0.04

0.02

Victoria College Prep School

Total number of pupils

295

300

286

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

105

93

51

Number of half-day sessions missed

424

402

78

Total number of half-day sessions

108,128

106,441

107,424

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.39

0.38

0.07

Secondary schools​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

School

Indicator

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

Grainville Secondary School

Total number of pupils

536

508

496

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

264

237

276

Number of half-day sessions missed

2676

1724

2884

Total number of half-day sessions

210,516

198,861

200,888

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

1.27

0.87

1.44

Haute Vallee Secondary School

Total number of pupils

706

689

649

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

377

340

324

Number of half-day sessions missed

3840

4367

3992

Total number of half-day sessions

254,968

245,980

231,068

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

1.51

1.78

1.73

Hautlieu Secondary School

Total number of pupils

223

234

218

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

19

24

33

Number of half-day sessions missed

98

127

71

Total number of half-day sessions

83,853

85,826

93,401

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.12

0.15

0.08

Jersey College for Girls

Total number of pupils

543

543

543

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

112

135

118

Number of half-day sessions missed

404

542

377

Total number of half-day sessions

201,342

197,274

202,524

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.20

0.27

0.19

Le Rocquier Secondary School

Total number of pupils

878

871

835

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

222

399

400

Number of half-day sessions missed

3514

3271

4434

Total number of half-day sessions

331,749

322,722

316,097

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

1.06

1.01

1.40

School

Indicator

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

Les Quennevais Secondary School

Total number of pupils

777

771

727

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

355

267

447

Number of half-day sessions missed

1839

2642

3532

Total number of half-day sessions

289,333

272,571

245,837

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.64

0.97

1.44

Victoria College

Total number of pupils

533

531

525

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

120

194

189

Number of half-day sessions missed

472

740

599

Total number of half-day sessions

192,063

188,214

195,617

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

0.25

0.39

0.31

 

 Special schools

School

Indicator

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

Alternative Curriculum

Total number of pupils

Incomplete data

24

21

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)​Incomplete data

22

19

Number of half-day sessions missed

​Incomplete data

1814

1332

Total number of half-day sessions

​Incomplete data

6301

5396

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence​Incomplete data

28.79

24.68

D'Hautree House Secondary School

Total number of pupils

23

23

15

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

23

22

14

Number of half-day sessions missed

1404

1965

2213

Total number of half-day sessions

7295

7618

4782

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence

19.25

25.79

46.28

School

Indicator

2011-12          

2012-13 2013-14

Mont a L'abbe Primary School

Total number of pupils

Incomplete data

34

29

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)​Incomplete data

x

x

Number of half-day sessions missed

​Incomplete data

11

19

Total number of half-day sessions

​Incomplete data

Incomplete data

Incomplete data

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence​Incomplete data​Incomplete data​Incomplete data

Mont a L'abbe Secondary School

Total number of pupils

Incomplete data

26

27

Number of pupils with at least one unauthorised absence (half day sessions)

​Incomplete data

x

x

Number of half-day sessions missed

​Incomplete data

8

8

Total number of half-day sessions

​Incomplete data

Incomplete data

Incomplete data

% of all half-day sessions missed due to unauthorised absence​Incomplete data​Incomplete data​Incomplete data

It should be noted that due to the small number of students educated within Jersey’s special schools, there may be large fluctuations in unauthorised absence rates year on year. 

Also, attendance / absence data for Jersey’s special schools has only been made available within the last two to three years, therefore it is not possible to assure the reliability of this information.

The Alternative Curriculum is a year 11 course designed to meet the needs of those pupils who are not engaging with learning in mainstream schools.

D’Hautree House School provide education for pupils with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Mont a L’abbe School provides for children with Severe or Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties.

B.

We attach [see below) the Department’s “School Attendance Policy” which provides details of the action taken in this area. 

This was also the subject of a written question to the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture in December 2014. 

Parts (a) to (d) of the answer are reproduced below. 

The link to the full answer on the States Assembly website is also included below.

(a) any legislation which applies and the powers of the Department:

Good attendance is recognised as a major factor in a child’s success in education so every effort is made by schools and ESC, working with families, to maximize attendance for every student. 

Unauthorized absence in Jersey is lower than the UK national average.

Under Article 12 of the Education (Jersey) Law 1999 parents or guardians are responsible for ensuring that any child of compulsory school age receives a full-time education. The law states:

A parent of a child of compulsory school age shall ensure that the child receives full-time education appropriate to the child’s age, ability and aptitude, and any special educational needs the child may have, either by regular attendance at a school at which the child is a pupil or otherwise.

The law also states that a parent who fails to comply is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale.

Under Article 14 the ESC Minister can seek an Education Supervision Order (ESO). 

This power is delegated to the ESC Attendance Panel, which can also recommend a referral to the Parish Hall with a view to prosecution.

(b) the Department’s policy in respect of repeated and extended absences from school:

The aim of the Education Welfare Service (EWS) at Education, Sport and Culture is to prevent any absence from becoming repeated or extended where possible. Prosecution under the law is a last resort. The EWS works in close partnership with schools and families to provide support, advice and guidance to determine the appropriate action needed where concerns emerge regarding a child’s attendance. The policy and procedure for dealing with absences is as follows:

Stage 1: school monitoring

Attendance is recorded twice a day in school and reasons for absence are monitored.

Stage 2 and 3: initial assessments and multi-agency meetings

Where school strategies have been unsuccessful advice is sought from the Education Welfare Officer (EWOs) for primary schools, or Attendance Officers (AOs) in secondary schools.

Contact is made with parents / carers to establish the cause of absence. This often involves home visits to support the family and identify strategies to improve attendance. 

Where underlying problems exist, an assessment meeting is arranged and where necessary a multi-agency approach is taken to help meet the needs of the child and support the family to enable regular school attendance.

Stage 4: warning letter

If there is no significant improvement in attendance, a warning letter is sent by school to remind parents / carers of their legal responsibility to ensure their child attends school. 

If there is still no improvement, the Senior Education Welfare Officer (SEWO) will send a formal warning letter.

Stage 5: school attendance meeting

Parents / carers are invited to a meeting in school to discuss their child’s attendance and to explore ways of working together to improve the situation. 

An Individual Action Plan (IAP) may be drawn up to assist the parents and the pupil in reaching agreed targets. 

Progress will be reviewed after an agreed period of time.

Stage 6: attendance panel

If there is no significant improvement in attendance by a certain date, the IAP can be reviewed or the case can be referred to an Attendance Panel at ESC. 

The criteria for referral to a panel include:

  •  sporadic attendance below the level expected for the student’s age
  •  long term record of school refusal
  •  where the parent / carer has not cooperated with actions designed to improve attendance
  •  where poor punctuality is impacting significantly on school attendance

The panel consists of:

  • the Senior Education Welfare Officer
  • Head of Inclusion or Senior Manager from ESC
  • external agency manager
  • school staff 
  • representatives of other departments as required

The parent / carer and child / children, if age appropriate, will be required to attend the Attendance Panel Meeting.

The panel has delegated powers to recommend a referral to the Parish Hall with a view to prosecution. 

It can also apply to the court for an Education Supervision Order.

(c) the number of staff directly employed in monitoring and dealing with such absence:

Primary schools: four Education Welfare Officers work with the States primary schools as well as some of the private schools and they monitor and deal with absences as part of their role. 

One of the four also supports D’Hautree House School and the Alternative Curriculum. The team is managed by the Senior Education Welfare Officer.

Secondary schools: there is an Attendance Officer in each of the four 11 to 16 schools.

(d) details of any liaison that takes place between the Department, schools, police and social workers in respect of this area:

The circumstances of each child vary and a range of professionals will be consulted according to the needs of each individual student.

There is daily contact between the department and schools. This can include headteachers, heads of year, special educational needs co-ordinators and teachers who are designated safeguarding leads.

The role of the EWOs and AOs involves a high level of interagency working including liaison with social workers where children have an assigned social worker.

The four EWOs each work with the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) for a full week on a rota basis. 

This involves close liaison with all schools, colleges, police and social workers. 

More recently a community police officer has also been assigned to secondary schools.

Download written question to Minister Education Sport and Culture by Deputy Higgins 1240/5(8563) (size 256kb)

The School Attendance Policy (May 2014) is provided below. 

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