Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Persistent Pupil Absence

Monday 29 January 2024 · 6 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Chi Onwurah raised concerns about the significant increase in persistent and severe pupil absence in Newcastle since 2016, questioning the effectiveness of the Government's current approach.
  • Andrew Gwynne highlighted the projected number of children in Manchester, Tameside, and Stockport who are set to miss half their school time by 2026 if current trends continue, citing Labour's plan supported by Sir Kevan Collins.
  • The Secretary of State responded by emphasizing the improvement in England's school absence rate to 7.5%, attributing this to daily attendance data and the work of attendance hubs across the country.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chi Onwurah Lab Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Education
Context

The MP is concerned about rising persistent absences, noting that since 2016, Newcastle's persistent absence has more than doubled and severe absence has increased by 282%. Labour Members support Sir Kevan Collins' plan.

Question

I am concerned that since 2016 persistent absence in Newcastle has more than doubled and severe absence is up 282%. The Secretary of State says it is her top priority, but what matters is the situation in schools here. Labour's plan for schools is supported by Sir Kevan Collins. Why will she not support it? What is she going to do about this now?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

The hon. Lady may have mixed up a couple of things there, but we introduced daily attendance data and sent it to every local authority. We are working with attendance hubs across the country and providing individual attention through attendance mentors. England has a 7.5% absence rate compared to 11.5% in Wales. We have a plan and are delivering on it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address Labour's plan or provide specific actions to combat the rise in absenteeism

How: Mixed Up A Couple Of Things There

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Q2 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
Education
Context

Manchester, Tameside, and Stockport face significant numbers of children set to miss half their time at school by 2026. The Labour party has a plan supported by Sir Kevan Collins.

Question

But by 2026, 2,435 children in Manchester, 907 in Tameside and 937 in Stockport are set to miss half their time at school if current trends continue. Labour has a plan to fix this crisis, backed by Sir Kevan Collins, the Government's own former education recovery commissioner. If this is the Secretary of State's top priority, why is her plan not working?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

It is working. It is already falling in England since the pandemic. We introduced daily data to identify exactly where the schools are, and we work with attendance hubs across the country. Our plan has a 7.5% absence rate compared to 11.5% in Wales.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide concrete reasons for the ineffectiveness of the current plan or specific actions to improve it

How: It Is Working, Already Falling

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Q3 Chi Onwurah Lab Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Education
Context

The MP, having worked as a teacher and head of year, encountered parents who found it cheaper to pay fines for taking their children on holiday during term time.

Question

I worked as a teacher and as head of year with overall responsibility for school attendance. In my time, I encountered a large cohort of parents who found that it was still cheaper to pay the fines they were given and save the money by going on holiday during term time. Is it not time to ramp up the cost of fines for parents who choose needlessly to withdraw their children from their education?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

Every moment matters in school. We have improved and increased our school standards, thanks to data showing patterns such as taking a week off outside term time or particular days off. We can now see these patterns and work at school level.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address whether fines should be increased but discussed the importance of daily attendance data

How: Every Moment Matters In School, Data Showing Patterns

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Q4 Jonathan Gullis
Education
Context

The MP has a private Member's Bill to make it mandatory for all schools and local authorities to follow best practice guidelines.

Question

My private Member's Bill, the School Attendance (Duties of Local Authorities and Proprietors of Schools) Bill, will make best practice mandatory. Will the Secretary of State take the opportunity to ensure that all colleagues across the House back the Bill this Friday?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

I thank my right hon. Friend for her work in this area and appreciate the initiatives she has introduced, urging colleagues across the House to support her endeavours.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to supporting the Bill but expressed appreciation for the initiative

How: Urging Colleagues To Support

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Q5 Vicky Ford Con
Education
Context

Millions of children are persistently absent from school, a national scandal. Government MPs voted against Labour's long-term plan to address the issue.

Question

The millions of children persistently absent from school is a national scandal, yet last week Government MPs joined together to vote against Labour's long-term plan to deal with that issue, putting party above country and children. So far the Government have only announced sticking plaster policies. Will the Secretary of State come forward with a long-term plan to address this properly?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

Certainly not. Under a Labour Government, standards would plummet back to where they were last time—27th in maths and 28th for English. Standards fall under Labour with no plans to get children back into school. We are uniquely positioned with daily data and planning legislation on children who are not in school.

Not addressed: Did not address the need for a long-term plan but attacked Labour's education record

How: Standards Would Plummet, No Plans To Get Children Back

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Q6 Catherine McKinnell Lab Newcastle upon Tyne North
Education Children & Families
Context

The Education Committee, Children's Commissioners say their top priority is to ensure all schools and local authorities follow best practice guidelines. A private Member's Bill aims to make this mandatory.

Question

Attendance matters, and we know that some schools and local authorities have higher attendance rates than others. That is why the Education Committee, the Children's Commissioners and others say that their top priority is to ensure that all schools and local authorities follow best practice guidelines. My private Member's Bill will make this mandatory. Will the Secretary of State take the opportunity to ensure that all colleagues across the House back the Bill on Second Reading this Friday?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

I thank my right hon. Friend for her work in this area, appreciate the initiatives she has introduced and urge colleagues across the House to support her endeavours.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to supporting the Bill but expressed appreciation for it

How: Appreciate The Initiatives, Urging Colleagues

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