Truancy jail threat 'a success'

Hard-line government measures against parents whose children play truant appear to be working, according to experts.

Head teachers, teaching unions and the Department for Education say there is increasing evidence that threatening sanctions up to and including jail works.

They are concerned that the problem, though high profile at the moment, could slip down the agenda, prompting a new decline in attendance rates. They are urging ministers, truancy officers and the press to keep up the pressure.

But the recent case involving Patricia Amos, the mother who was jailed after her daughters Emma, 15, and Jackie, 13, repeatedly missed classes at Banbury school in Oxfordshire despite 71 attempts by the education authority to contact her, has concentrated minds.

Estelle Morris, Secretary of State for Education, said the case had "set an example to others". Last night sources close to Ms Morris said: "There is now very strong anecdotal evidence showing even the most persistent truants are beginning to go back to school.

"The Amos case sent shock-waves through the system because people know there are tough consequences. We were criticised at the time for being too harsh but it is delivering results and we are utterly unrepentant about it."

Alan Cogswell, an education welfare officer in Bury, Lancashire, said that the publicity surrounding the case had made parents "sit up and listen". On visits to the homes of absent children, he is now regularly asked: "Will I go to jail?"

Truancy sweeps in the area, and nationally, have also had an effect as parents are being caught red-handed keeping their children away from school. Mr Cogswell said: "For those who are willing to co-operate with us we will work to resolve the problems they face. But parents are beginning to realise that for those who don't it is crunch time. I think the indications are there that it is working but we will sort this out only if we keep plugging away at it."

Head teachers also report a change at the school gates with children being brought into school by mothers and fathers telling them "I'm not going to prison for you", one head teacher from a Manchester primary school said.

Kathy James of the National Association of Headteachers added: "It has obviously worked as a deterrent both for parents and children. But it is short term and obviously a shock tactic. But it can never work in the long term.

"Realistically, I think this is the sort of thing that will need to carry on. We do need to see schools continue to be supported in this way because if the parents don't get the children to school there is no way we can educate them."

According to the latest truancy and condoned absence figures, 6.5 per cent of half-days of school are missed – around 21 half-days per absent pupil – with the knowledge of an adult while truanting accounts for 0.7 per cent of half-days and 13.5 half-days per absent pupil.