NEW figures have revealed that unauthorised absence of children from schools in Blackburn and Darwen are below the national and North West averages.
Statistics from the Department for Children, Schools and Families show primary and secondary school children in the area have taken off 210 unauthorised half days in 2007/08 academic out of 21,240.
According to schools and the council work to clampdown on the problem means unauthorised absence levels fell just below the national and north west average.
The amount of persistent absentees had also reduced, down from 4.4 per cent to 3.9 per cent of all absences, but was still above the national average of 3.6 per cent.
Councillor Chris Thayne, executive member for Children’s Services for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said
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