School absence is highest in England's poorest areas

Persistent absence from school is five times higher in England's poorest areas than in the richest, government figures show.

Some 50,000 children in the poorest neighbourhoods are absent one day a week on average, according to an analysis by the Conservatives.

The government stresses the link between attendance and exam results.

It has spent more than £1.4bn on anti-truancy drives and says overall absence has come down.

The figures show 6.1% of children in the most deprived 10% of areas were persistently absent, compared with 1.2% at the other end of the spectrum.

The government defines persistent absence as missing at least one fifth of the available school sessions for any reason including truancy.

The Tories needed an analysis to tell them that? A visit to Spon End, Willenhall or Wood End any day of the week during school hours would have provided a pretty strong clue to the situation. They'll be telling us next that long term youth unemployment is also highest in those same areas!

Hardly rocket science is it?

I always wanted my kids to have a better education than I had. This is what pushes us forward. Unfortunately, so many parents regard education as "optional"!