OVERALL absence from secondary schools in Gwent fell during 2013/14, continuing a downward trend of several years, according to new figures from the Welsh Government.

But in some areas, unauthorised absence rose, and across Gwent as a whole, the level of such absences remained the same as it was in 2012/13.

Across Gwent, 6.9 per cent of half-day sessions were missed, with the lowest rate (5.5 per cent) recorded in Monmouthshire, and the highest (7.8 per cent) in Blaenau Gwent.

The Blaenau Gwent rate was the highest in Wales, but was a big improvement on the nine per cent rate from 2012/13.

Newport and Caerphilly (both 7.1 per cent) were among the areas with the next highest overall absence rate.

Around 60 per cent of all absences from secondary schools in Wales are due to illness.

The fall in overall absences Wales-wide has been particularly marked during the past four years, but while figures for unauthorised absences have seen a more gradual decrease, it has continued for longer.

Across Gwent, 1.6 per cent of half-day school sessions were lost to unauthorised absence last year, and performance here has been more mixed.

The rate of such absences in Newport secondary schools rose last year to 2.4 per cent (from 2.1 per cent), and also rose in Monmouthshire (up to 0.8 per cent from 0.5 per cent).

Unauthorised absences in Blaenau Gwent remained unchanged at 2.3 per cent, though this remained - along with that of Cardiff - the highest in Wales.