Three are named in truancy hall of shame THREE Bolton schools have been named among the worst 200 in the country for truancy.

Ladybridge School in Bolton, Westhoughton High School, and Withins School in Breightmet are singled out in tables published today for their unauthorised absence record.

Education chiefs claim that overall, the number of pupils playing truant is dropping and school attendance is increasing.

At Ladybridge School, an average of 4.5 per cent of lessons were missed during the 2005 and 2006 academic year. The figures for Westhoughton High and Withins School are 3.8 per cent and 3.5 per cent respectively, compared to a national average of 1.3 per cent.

Headteachers of the schools say significant progress is being made in tackling the problems.

Ladybridge School was recently commended by the Government for its crackdown on truancy after rates fell from 5.9 per cent in 2003/04 to 4.5 per cent in 2004/05.

Headteacher Jo Gabler said: "We work continuously hard to improve our level of unauthorised absences, however we resolutely refuse to condone unauthorised absence.

"We have systems in place to fast-track prosecutions and we work closely with the educational social workers to improve levels of attendance. "

Phil Mather, headteacher of Withins School, said: "There is a downward trend on unauthorised absences at the school. It must be remembered we take a tough stance on children missing school.

"For example, a phone call from a parent telling the school their child will not be in because of sickness needs to be followed up by a written note, otherwise we class it as unauthorised absence.

"Maybe our policies are too tough. But for this school it is the child that is important, not figures."

Westhoughton High declined to comment.

You can print out a copy of the local tables HERE .

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