Schools use SMS to tackle truancy

Schools across England are using SMS text messaging to try to buck the national increase in truancy.

Government figures released this week reveal truancy numbers among secondary school students were up 25 per cent to 566,000 for the year 2001 to 2002.

But some schools are tackling spiraling truancy rates through an 'Informer for Schools' package that allows them to send a text message, email or voice message to parents as soon as it is known their child is absent from school that day.

A survey of 50 schools involved in the scheme by unified messaging company Voice Connect saw an average reduction in truancy rates by two per cent and found it took 25 minutes to contact all parents of children absent that day compared to an average of five hours previously.

Stefan Olsberg, managing director at Voice Connect, said in a statement: "In light of the 25 per cent increase in truancy rates across secondary schools and the crisis in funding faced by schools Charles Clarke could do worse that examine how schools are using the Informer system to increase attendance whilst reducing their costs."