Absent pupils at risk of grooming

Children being absent from school was raised as an issue at a review into safeguarding children in Rochdale following the horrific sexual grooming case in 2012.

The report quoted Department for Education figures which showed that there were over 14,000 children missing from Greater Manchester schools over six half-terms in 2012/13.

This included 9,135 children persistently absent from secondary schools (missing over 15 per cent of lessons) and 4,955 children persistently absent from primary schools.

In her report Ms Coffey also drew attention to concerns of other professionals about children on part-time timetables.

One youth worker said: “If you only go to school between 9 and 12 and when you get home your parents are at work or do not give a monkey’s about you, then what do you do from 12 onwards?”

Read the report here