SCHOOLS in Bradford are the joint-worst in Yorkshire for the number of pupils missing classes without a valid reason.

Statistics published by the Department for Education show that 1.5 per cent of students were absent from classes at state-funded primary and secondary schools between autumn last year and this spring without an authorised excuse - the joint-highest percentage in the county alongside Hull.

Bradford schools also feature prominently on the persistent absentees list, with 5.4 per cent of students having missed 38 or more sessions during the time period. Only Wakefield and Barnsley have a higher percentage than Bradford.

There were 76,860 pupils enrolled at state-funded primary (45,427) and secondary (31,435) schools in Bradford district in the time period covered by the figures.

Councillor Ralph Berry, Bradford Council's executive member for children and young people’s services, said the high figures were partly down to the proactive work being done by the authority to clamp down on parents taking children on holiday in term-time.

"I am getting complaints from parents who are upset at getting a fine for children missing school," said Cllr Berry. "I have had people almost shouting at me, moaning for being fined for taking a holiday.

"The reason we are getting the whining is because we are cracking down on more middle class people."

He added: "We have one of the highest rates of fining parents because we are cracking down on it.

"In a couple of years I would like to see the figures again."

In Bradford primary schools, 4.2 per cent of pupils missed classes - one per cent of them unauthorised. At secondary schools it was 5.8 per cent, with 2.2 per cent unauthorised.

Of 8,217 four-year-olds enrolled at school, 6.1 per cent were absent.

George McQueen, assistant director for access and inclusion at the Council, said: "Attendance in Bradford primary schools has risen from 94.9 per cent to 95.8 per cent, an increase of 0.9 per cent. Attendance in secondary schools has risen from 93.5 per cent to 94.9 per cent, an increase of 0.7 per cent.

"These improvements in attendance are exactly the same as the national average and it is encouraging that Bradford, the youngest city in the country with one of the highest rates of mid-year admissions to schools, is maintaining levels of attendance consistent with the national average.

"Levels of unauthorised absence have remained static nationally but in Bradford the levels have reduced by 0.1 per cent in primary schools and 0.4 per cent in secondary schools. It is encouraging to note Bradford is improving faster than the national average but our rates of unauthorised absences are still too high.

"Rates of persistent absence (where pupils attend school for less than 85 per cent of the time) have improved exactly in line with the national average, by 0.8 per cent.

"Bradford’s levels of unauthorised absence remain higher than national and local averages. It should be noted that this is also due to schools in Bradford taking a firm line on challenging the reasons given for absence. Head teachers authorise pupil absence in term time only in exceptional circumstances.

"Nevertheless there is still more to do and we remain fully committed to improving these figures still further."

Pam Milner, Bradford representative of teaching union NASUWT, said: "It is a great shame that we are once again in the news for something that is not positive, because I believe Bradford has a lot to offer that is positive.

"Staff and students are working very hard to paint Bradford in its best positive light."

She added: "I think, in the analysis, you have to look at reasons. One could be the number of parents taking children on extended leave, which means that the authority has clamped down on children going on extended leave and makes it an unauthorised absence."