Norfolk/Suffolk: Thousands Of Children Regularly Skipping School

21 March 2013, 11:26 | Updated: 21 March 2013, 11:53

The number of children regularly missing lessons in Norfolk and Suffolk is still above the national average.

The Department for Education has released the latest figures showing the number of children not turning up to school in Norfolk and Suffolk.

In Norfolk a total of 5,650 children are classed as 'persistant absentees', that's 6% of the pupils who missed school in the last school year 2011/2012.  The national average is 5.2%.

In Suffolk 5.7% of children who missed school were those classed as missing lessons regularly last year. That's 4,790 pupils.

Not turning up to lessons is more common in both Norfolk and Suffolk's secondary schools than primaries.  But, the number of pupils skipping classes regularly has fallen slightly since last year.