4/5/2005 - Truancy sweeps 2005

Cumbria County Council's education welfare service and Cumbria Police recently carried out truancy sweeps in Barrow, Kendal, Penrith and Carlisle.

The sweeps were also supported by Cumbria Connexions and the Youth Offending Team. 74 young people were approached in total across the four areas. 30 in Barrow, 20 in Kendal, 14 in Carlisle and 10 in Penrith.

Of these 74, 24 were out of school without good reason. 15 girls and 9 boys, all apart from 2 were secondary school age.

17 young people who were not with an adult or carers were taken from the streets to a safe place and then either returned to school or to the care of their parents.

Barry Archibald, attendance and exclusion manager for the county council's education welfare service said:

"There are obviously good reasons for children not being in school, such as going for a medical appointment, however both the county council and Police were very concerned to find that 32 of the young people approached were out and about with a parent instead of being in school. We want to work with parents to get the best education we can for our young people. We hope the truancy sweeps will help more parents and carers understand that every day in school is important and that every day missed does have an adverse impact on children's later success in exams and on the qualifications they need." 

Truancy sweeps are carried out in partnership with the Police where pupils and parents are given advice and information about the law on school attendance and are offered support from the education welfare service to try and make sure that pupils do not miss out on their education.