Our wake-up call for the truants

10:00pm Thursday 10th April 2008

Comments (4)   Have your say »

TRUANTS beware: You could be set for a rude awakening if you decide to bunk off school.

Shoeburyness High School has launched a pioneering new scheme targeting persistent truants by visiting their homes and even getting them out of bed.

The four-strong proactive attendance team seems to be making an impact on truancy.

Attendance rates at the school have been steadily rising from 91.8 per cent cent last year to a current figure of 92.7 per cent.

This surpasses the school's target of 92 per cent and almost reaches the Government target of 93 per cent.

Attendance officer Christine Melville and colleague Liz Nubbert invited the Echo along to their round of unannounced home visits to check up on absent pupils.

Wearing high-visibility jackets, the pair knock on doors to track down errant pupils.

Mrs Melville said: "Parents are often quite taken aback that we've arrived at the door.

"On the whole, they know they're in the wrong.

"A lot of the time the parents are condoning the absence and covering up for their children. We sometimes go into the bedroom to get them out of bed, with the parent's permission of course."

At the first house we call at, there is no reply, until a neighbour tells us that the mum is in bed and rings her mobile phone to get her out.

At another, the dad of a pupil who has had problems with non-attendance in the past tells us that his son is ill.

When asked why he did not tell the school, he said he had no credit on his phone.

Mrs Melville said: "Please let us know in future. You can always tell your neighbours who can contact us."

Parents are texted first if their children are absent, to let them know, before further action is taken.

The latest tool being used by the team is the truancy hotline card which they hand out to local businesses.

If a pupil is spotted hanging around shops during class hours, staff there can let the school know straight away. Mrs Nubbert added: "If a parent can be quite challenging at first, you need to spend a bit of time reassuring them that you're there to help.

"Most parents want to support us but it's hard sometimes to admit that your child is wrong.

"Some parents feel that they can't be assertive with their kids - that's one of our biggest stumbling blocks.

"Children sometimes think they don't have to attend school but it's a Government requirement. Their parents could go to court if they don't."

Absentee pupils are divided into different categories according to how many times they miss school, from levels one to three.

If attendance is still bad after level three, parents can be prosecuted in court and fined.

Last year, four were prosecuted at Shoeburyness.

The team has a working meeting every Friday with representatives from Southend Council and the deputy head.

Deputy head Huw Williams said: "Other schools have attendance teams, but we put a lot of effort and resources into ours.

"The team's been running for two years and made great progress, with attendance up 1 per cent each year."

Mrs Melville added: "Most of our kids are great. Unfortunately we just deal with the minority."