FOI Request - School Absences

Request 101003306950

1)  In each of the last two full calendar years (2021, 22) and so far this year how many warning letters have been sent out to the parents or guardians of pupils over concerns about their children’s unauthorised school absences? For clarity, these are letters sent out to parents or guardians, raising concerns about unauthorised absences relating to that parent or guardian’s child.

2)  How many of these letters related to pupils taking unauthorised absence in order to go on holiday during term time? Please break the figures down for each of the last two full calendar years (2021, 22) and so far this year.

3)  In each of the last two full calendar years (2021, 22) and so far this year how many pupils have been granted time off school in order to go on holiday? For clarity, these are occasions when pupils have been grated authorised absence to go on holiday during term time.

4)  In each of the last two full calendar years (2021, 22) and so far this year how many parents or guardians have been sanctioned by the council, (i.e prosecuted, fined or both)  as a result of their child’s unauthorised school absences? Please break the figures down for each year and to show how many parents were given each type of sanction. These figures will relate to occasions when parents or guardians have failed to provide efficient education for their child who is of school age (Education (Scotland) Act 1980, Section 30). Parents/guardians failing to do so make themselves liable to prosecution (Education (Scotland) Act 1980, Section 43) and a fine of up to £1,000, imprisonment of both.

Response 30-05-2023

1) -3) Schools have advised that they would have to look through every pupil file to get this information. This task would cost the Council in excess of £600 of staff time. In accordance with section 12 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (excessive cost), we are therefore unable to comply with this part of the request.

4) No parents have been prosecuted / fined.