Data shows that Sheffield schools have more than the average number of students absent, and parents are paying larger fines than ever before.
Photo by NeONBRAND (Unsplash)
The most recent pre-Coronavirus statistics available for school absences show Sheffield is worse than average when it comes to missing school. Parents are paying for these absences, with the number of prosecutions and fine payments skyrocketing in recent years.
Councillor Jack Clarkson, independent, said: “if a child isn’t at school, it is very hard on the parents. Every instance should be looked at individually. You may fine someone £1,000, and you may fine others £25. It shouldn’t be a broad penalty; that’s unfair.
“I was never bright at school, and there has to be an alternative for those who can’t do school; that’s why they’re missing.”
Photo by MChe Lee (Unsplash)
According to GOV.UK statistics, secondary schools in Sheffield, have, on average, 5.9% of students absent compared to 5.5% in the rest of England.
The data also shows that 15% of Sheffield’s secondary school pupils are ‘consistently absent’, which works out as 4,862 students or 221 classes of pupils missing out on lesson time.
Graph showing the number of parents prosecuted for child absences in Sheffield (2013-2019)
Graph showing the amount of money collected in absence fines by Sheffield City Council (2013-2019).
This above-average absence can be used to explain why Sheffield parents are getting fined more than before, and more frequently. In the 2018-19 school year, Sheffield City Council collected nearly £300,000 in fines for missing pupils and prosecuted just shy of 1,000 parents. These punishments are the highest Sheffield has ever seen.
The Sheffield City Council data shows there is a clear link between the amount of money the council has collected and the number of parents who have been successfully prosecuted for their child’s school absence.
The figures released by the council also indicate the number of parents who were issued a penalty notice. The number of parents issued a notice between 2013/14 and 2018/19 increased 400%.
Some, like Councillor Clarkson, believe the school curriculum should be adapted to help children who want to skip school.
He added: “I’m a believer that some children are not naturally gifted academically. I have always said teachers should be truthful with parents and say that they can only expect so much academically.
“We should give them [children] skills away from academics, so they feel they learnt something useful from their time in school; we can’t all be scientists.”