Primary truancy on the rise

Truancy in English primary schools has increased for the fourth year running.
Authorised absences - when the child is away, but the school accepts the reason - are much more common than unauthorised absences, but these have also slightly increased after falling steadily for the past ten years.
In 2007-08 the overall absence rate was 5.26% in primary schools compared to 5.18 the previous year. The average was about eight school days per year per child.
The most common reason for absence was illness, followed by family holidays.
Pupil absence in schools in England