Liberal Democrats challenge council bosses on school absences as teachers warn of “ghost-children”

Leader of Oldham Liberal Democrats, councillor Howard Sykes MBE has challenged Oldham Council to provide answers on school absences across the Borough after education leaders warned of rising rates of absent children in classrooms across the country. 

Upon submitting a Freedom of Information request calling for Oldham-specific absence data, councillor Sykes said, “Children of all ages have had their education hugely impacted by the covid-19 pandemic and the lockdowns.  Teachers have struggled to ensure that children are able to catch up. These rates of absence in our schools should worry us all.  The Council must urgently provide figures for school absences in Oldham and provide support, where it is needed, to get children back into school.”

This intervention from Councillor Sykes comes after it was revealed that more than one in five children were recorded as ‘persistently absent’ in 2022 – meaning that they missed 19 or more school days in a year.

Last month (May) former Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield wrote to the government to raise the alarm about the spiralling number of absences, including those of ‘severely absent’ children, who have missed at least half of the time they should be in school.

Councillor Sykes said, “We must not allow children in Oldham to fall behind.  The council has a role to play in making sure parents and teachers have the help they need to keep children learning in the classroom.” 

FOI Request submitted by councillor Sykes

Subject: Request information relating to school absences – both persistent and severe

FAO: Oldham Borough Council 

This is a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I am writing to request information relating to school absences – both persistent and severe –  in Oldham borough.

Please can you provide information outlining the number of children who have been persistently absent in the years 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23.  

Please can you also provide information outlining the number of children who have been severely absent in the years 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23.  

Please provide data by school where possible. 

Please acknowledge receipt of this request.

Many thanks and best wishes.

Councillor Howard Sykes MBE