Bradford schools have chalked up their best attendance records ever - but now they are being told: "You can do better."

Latest figures show primary school attendance for the 2003/2004 academic year was 94.4 per cent, compared with 93.6 per cent in 2000/2001.

For secondary schools, the figures are 91.2 per cent, compared with 89.2 per cent in 2000/2001.

Education Bradford's principal education social worker, Barbara Lawrie, said the results were the best she had seen in the 22 years she had worked in the field. "But we are not complacent and we want to see even better results next year," she said.

"These are unprecedented levels and we are narrowing the gap thanks to a number of initiatives we have set up. The main message that we - Education Bradford and our colleagues who work in schools - are getting across is that it's a community responsibility and we must all do what we can to make sure children access education."

Mrs Lawrie said:"Through education, young people can enhance their life choices. We do not want to prosecute parents whose aim is to get their children to school regularly, but they must know there are consequences when parents fail to ensure their child regularly attends.

"We have had great results and we will be working closely with schools and other bodies to ensure our success continues."

In the past school year, 650 parents ended up before Bingley or Bradford magistrates for their child's unauthorised absence. Many schools have adopted Education Bradford's Traffic Lights Initiative, which identifies children who are regularly absent. The system monitors them and sets parents targets for youngsters' attendance.

If targets are still not met, despite warnings and support, and the parents end up at the "red light" they can face prosecution, which can mean three months' jail in the most serious cases.

In the past year, Education Bradford staff and police went on 13 truancy patrols around schools with specific problems.

A total of 171 unaccompanied pupils were spotted. They were questioned and many were escorted back to school. If they were truanting their parents were contacted and given advice and support.

There were also 15 truancy sweeps in the city centre and 375 young people seen accompanied by adults were stopped.

Many had authorised absence, such as illness or exclusion, but parents of the others were told it was illegal to keep youngsters off school.

The national figures have not yet been published, but last year the figure for Bradford's primary schools was 94.3 per cent, ahead of the national average attendance rate of 94.2 per cent.

For Bradford's secondary schools the figure for last year was 90.4 per cent compared to a national average of 91.7 per cent.

l Parents who need advice or help about attendance can contact Education Bradford on (01274) 385189, or write to Future House, Bolling Road, Bradford.