Thirteen truants apprehended in Benchill sweep

Thirteen young people have been caught truanting in a two-day sweep in Benchill by Manchester City Council education officers.

Six pupils were caught without a valid reason for being out of school in the first sweep on 25 February. A total of 21 pupils were stopped in that sweep - 12 of secondary school age.

In the second sweep on 29 February, seven out of eight pupils stopped had no reason for being out of school. All the students were of secondary school age and six of them were returned to school and two taken home.

Reasons for being out of school ranged from a straight admission of truanting to illness.

The Executive Member for Children's Services, Councillor Sheila Newman, said: "This sends out a message to all children and their parents that we are serious about the problem of truanting. A failure to prevent their child attending school can result in fines and court action for a parent, so it is sensible to make sure they are in school when they should be. After all, it is for the child's ultimate benefit."

Attendance advisers will monitor attendance for the next three weeks in relation to the 13 pupils who were truanting. Their parents may be invited to an attendance panel to discuss the reasons for poor attendance. Any further truanting may lead to a penalty notice being issued, with a fine of £50 payable within 28 days, rising to £100 within 42 days.

A two-day truancy sweep in Baguley during January caught 28 pupils out of school without a valid reason.

Media contacts:

Dave Hulme, 0161 234 4610, Jane Lemon, 0161 234 3179