PUPILS in Gwent missed the most amount of school in Wales last year, Welsh Government figures have shown.

Figures released showed more than 10,000 pupils were absent from high schools in Wales for more than 25 days in 2015/16.

Schools in Newport had the highest amount of absences nationally, with 6.8 per cent of pupils absent in 2015/16. 

Councillor Gail Giles, Newport City Council’s cabinet member for education, said: “We recognise that punctual and regular school attendance is an essential requirement for successful learning from the time a child starts school. 

“Attendance strategies used by schools and our education department have resulted in Newport secondary schools reporting an increase in the rate of school attendance from 91.9 per cent in 2011/12 to 93.2 per cent in 2015/16.

“The council and schools will continue to work closely with parents, carers and pupils to develop initiatives to increase the rate of school attendance across the city and to reduce the rates of unauthorised absence.”

Elsewhere, Caerphilly had 6.6 per cent of pupils missing school while Torfaen had 6.3 per cent, and Blaenau Gwent had 6 per cent.Monmouthshire had the least absences with 5.3 per cent.

In 2015/16, 5.8 per cent of half-day school sessions in Wales were missed due to overall absence and 1.3 per cent of half-day school sessions were missed due to unauthorised absence from maintained secondary, special and independent schools.

In general, overall absence has been falling since 2006/07, with overall absenteeism in 2015/16 dropping by 0.3 per cent since the previous year.
The percentage of persistent absentees in mainstream secondary schools has decreased every year since 2008-09.

According to the figures released, illness was the most common reason for absence in 2015/16.

Cabinet secretary for education, Kirsty Williams said, “I am really pleased to see levels of overall absenteeism in secondary schools continue to fall and now stand at their lowest level for 10 years. 

"This is testament to the commitment and dedication of parents, teachers, and local authorities across Wales who are helping our young people understand that if they are going to fulfil their potential, regular school attendance is vital.”