THERE has been a rise in truancy levels in Worcestershire schools.

The figures show overall absence in Worcestershire has risen from 5.4 per cent last academic year to 5.6 per cent this one. The national average is 5.5 per cent.

Worcestershire’s rise in authorised and unauthorised absence has been put down to increased cases of sickness and the heavy snow in February.

The percentage of pupils in Worcestershire with persistent absence is 2.5 per cent, while nationally it is 2.2 per cent.

One of the highest truancy figures this year was at Simon De Montford Middle School, Evesham. The number of sessions missed through total absence – both authorised and unauthorised – was 7.8 per cent. The number of persistent absences was 7.9 per cent. Both were higher than in April when they stood at 7 per cent and 6.2 per cent respectively.

Executive headteacher Caroline Browne, who is also headteacher of Evesham High School, said tough measures had been introduced but admitted the school has struggled ever since it went into special measures in November 2007.

“The school is already looking better but it will take time to get those who are persistently absent to sort themselves out,” she said.

Councillor Marcus Hart, cabinet member for children and young people (0-11 years), said the county council would work hard with schools, pupils and parents to reduce truancy.

Meanwhile, persistent absences at Fairfield Community Primary, Brickfields, Worcester, dropped from from 7.7 per cent to 2.8 per cent.