What is Truancy?
If you take time off school for trivial reasons, with or without
your parents’ knowledge, or if you are absent without the school’s
permission, then this is called 'truancy' or 'playing truant'.
Who can I talk to about Truancy?
If you have any problems at school that are affecting your
attendance then you should speak to your parents and to a teacher
you trust, or seek advice from a trusted adult or advice line. Your
school’s Education Welfare Officer will be happy to speak to you if
you need help and advice.
What are the laws on Truancy?
If you are between 5 and 16 years old, the law says your
parents must make sure you receive a suitable education. The school
leaving age is rising to 18 in the next few years. Once you are on
the register of a school, your parents are responsible, under law,
for making sure that you attend the school regularly.
You should only be away from school if you are too ill to
attend, or if the school has given permission for you to be away
from school, for example, a field trip or school outing. It is your
school’s head teacher and not your parents who decide if an absence
is for a proper reason or not.
If you don’t attend school regularly, the school will follow up,
but may also contact the Council’s Education Welfare
Service. In this case an Education Welfare Officer will meet
with you and your parents to find out what the problems are, and
to see what help or support is needed to improve school
attendance.
If parents don't co-operate with the Education Welfare Officer
(sometimes called an Education Social Worker) the Council can fine
or prosecute them in court. The police also have powers, in certain
circumstances, to return young people to school if they are in a
public place when they should be attending school.
Where can I find out more?
You can contact the Education
Welfare Service for more information.