Truancy at schools across Telford & Wrekin has fallen following a concerted drive to boost attendances.

The number of youngsters not skipping school was said to have “improved greatly” although the level in the borough is now only fractionally above the national average, according to Telford & Wrekin Council.

Children who miss more than 64 half-day sessions of school are classed as “persistently absent”.

Borough council spokesman Russell Griffin said teaching staff, parents, governors, education welfare officers and other partners had been working together to improve the attendance of students.

Latest figures for 2009-10 show that the overall attendance for Telford & Wrekin schools was 0.22 per cent higher than nationally.

The former Three Oaks Primary School, now Grange Park, was the Telford & Wrekin primary with the most improved attendance, its figure having risen from 95.06 per cent to 96.62 per cent.

Wrockwardine Wood Arts College was the most improved secondary school, with a rise of 91.51 per cent to 93.32 per cent.

The primary school with the most improved level of persistent absence was Queenswood in Ketley Bank. It recorded a fall from 5.65 per cent to 1.82 per cent.

The secondary school with the most improved level of persistent absence was again Wrockwardine Wood Arts College, dropping from 9.75 per cent to 2.25 per cent.

Telford & Wrekin Council has presented shields to schools making the most significant improvements.

One initiative involved in the crackdown has been Attendance Week during which all schools focus on specific activities to improve attendance.

Councillor Stephen Burrell, the council’s cabinet member for children and young people, said: “Attendance figures across the borough have improved greatly and our overall figure is above the national average.

“Everyone connected with our schools has been working very hard to impress upon parents and pupils that every day matters and every lesson counts.

“We would encourage people to contact us about children who they are aware of that are missing their education and we would emphasise that school is the safest place for a child.”