The figures, which take into account primary and second schools, were among the highest in the East Midlands.

School absentee is measured in sessions – with two sessions in one school day.

In Northamptonshire, there were 113,860 total sessions missed due to unauthorised absence and 64,140 authorised absence sessions.

The new figures have been revealed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.


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Stephen Clarke, managing director of Truancy Call Ltd, said: "To tackle truancy head-on, the Government and schools must engage parents in the very earliest stages of absenteeism so that children missing the odd lesson can be quickly identified and wider problems addressed before it gets to a stage when a child persistently truants and parents are charged.

"Parental support is fundamental to the success of a school's anti-truancy strategy.

"It is vital that schools implement early prevention strategies by challenging parents and alerting them each and every time their child is absent.

"Knowing that mum or dad is contacted every time they miss, or are late to school, is often enough to deter children from 'bunking off' and stop the problem from escalating."

Nationally, the figures for unauthorised absence for maintained primary schools, state funded secondary schools, city technology colleges and academies in England during the autumn 2008 term has increased from 0.94 per cent in 2007 to 0.98 per cent in 2008.

The leader of Northamptonshire County Council, Jim Hakewill, pledged to crack down on truancy ahead of this month's election.

In March, the Evening Telegraph revealed that truancy patrols would be rolled out across the county as part of a major new campaign to help improve school attendance in the county.

Speaking previously county council spokesman for children and young people, Joan Kirkbride, said: "We are trying to spell out the long-term effects of regularly missing lessons.

"It's so important that children do not miss school. Regular attendance is a vital part of giving them the best possible start in life, not just academically but socially."

Truancy sweeps were organised by the county council's education welfare officers and Northamptonshire Police.

Persistent absence can also mean parents run the risk of being prosecuted for failing to get their child to attend.