EDUCATION officials across the region yesterday welcomed news that truancy rates in secondary schools have largely fallen.

Statistics for 2009-10, published yesterday by the Department for Education, show that the number of pupils playing truant in most secondary schools in the North- East and North Yorkshire has fallen compared with 2008-9.

Secondary school truancy in Middlesbrough improved the most in comparison with the previous year, with a decrease of 0.97 per cent.

In Darlington, the rate has fallen 0.1 per cent, and in County Durham it has dropped 0.47 per cent.

Primary school truancy rates for 2009-10 were also published, but comparable figures for 2008-9 were not released.

Nationally, primary school age pupils missed an average of 0.67 per cent of sessions due to unauthorised absence.

Councils across the region achieved lower than national average statistics for primary schools, but Newcastle and North Tyneside recorded slightly higher levels.

North Yorkshire had the region’s lowest rate of unauthorised absences in primary schools, with 0.19 per cent.

Darlington’s rate was 0.64 per cent and County Durham’s 0.34 per cent.

Maureen Clare, head of access and inclusion services at Durham County Council, said: “We are delighted to be making such good progress.

Schools and the local authority offer a range of support, as well as award schemes to discourage truancy.

“We have a scheme with a travel agent to discourage families from taking termtime holidays and which provides ten per cent off family holidays in this country and abroad.

“Initiatives such as this are obviously making a difference.”

Councillor Cyndi Hughes, cabinet member for children and young people at Darlington Borough Council, said: “We have worked extremely hard with students, parents and schools to reduce absenteeism in our schools.

“Our message to pupils is they can’t learn if they are not there. It is good to see it improving.”

The overall truancy rate for all schools in England dropped marginally to 1.04 per cent from 1.05 per cent the year before.

The most common reason for absence is illness, but family holidays and lateness also feature prominently.

About 66,000 pupils of all ages skipped school sessions without permission on a typical day in 2009-10 through truancy, family holidays, illness and other reasons.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said that despite the welcome drop in secondary school figures, absenteeism was still too high.

He said: “We know that children who are absent for substantial parts of their education fall behind their peers and can struggle to catch up.”