To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the percentage was of pupils in secondary education in Gloucestershire was classed as persistent absentees in each year for which figures are available, broken down by school.

The first year for which information on persistent absentees is available relates to 2005/06 and covers secondary schools only. In 2006/07 the scope of collection also extended to primary and special schools.

Local level information on the percentage of persistent absentees in secondary schools in 2005/06 and 2006/07 has been published in Table 7.2 of the Statistical First Release: Pupil Absence in Schools in England at

http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000775/index.shtml

School level absence data are published as part of the Achievement and Attainment Tables, which can be found at

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/performancetables/.

However, the inclusion of a persistence absence rate is a new indicator that will be available in 2008 tables.

The requested information for 2005/06 and 2006/07 could be provided only at disproportionate costs.