Recent Government figures reflected unfavourably on the worsening truanting problem in Haringey schools (see also Haringey Conservative press release at: http://www.tottenhamconservatives.com/local_news_detail.asp?id=218).

This concern is emphasised by a recent report (paper 5, 17 June) to the Council's Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Panel which revealed that attendance was deemed by Ofsted as "unsatisfactory" at two-thirds of all primary schools inspected (34) and at nearly half (4) of all secondary schools.

The report also reveals that earlier this year the Standards Forum identified one-third (26) of all schools as "causing concern" and, in particular, half (5) of all secondary schools as "causing concern". Conservatives welcome the modest improvement represented by these latest numbers but say that the improvement is from a very low base and show how far Haringey has yet to go to turn round achievement.

Commented Peter Forrest, Conservative GLA Candidate for Enfield-Haringey:

"A disturbingly high percentage of Haringey's primary and secondary schools have poor attendance records and perhaps not surprisingly the quality of education at many is also causing official concern.

Conservatives welcome the modest improvements which are being achieved. But progress seems painfully slow and there is still a long way to go in raising education standards in Haringey".

ENDS.