300 Walsall pupils missing school education
More than 300 pupils from Walsall are not being taught at schools in the borough, with more than 25 not being accounted for.
Figures reveal that 29 children on the pupil tracking list for the borough are classed as 'destination unknown' 15 of which are of primary school age and 14 who should be at secondary school.
These pupils have been removed from the roll of a Walsall school but authorities are no longer aware of where they are receiving education, if at all.
There are also 33 primary aged children and 47 secondary aged children classed as 'children missing education', meaning they are without a school place.
A total of 236 pupils are also being educated at home.
The figures have been called 'alarming' by Councillor Doug James, who also works as a governor for four schools in Walsall.
Councillor James said: "My concern is that the right approach isn't being taken on dealing with these issues.
"There are 29 children who this borough council simply can't account for and I don't think that is good enough.
"We also have a large number of young people in home education, which is concerning in it's own way.
"I would like some assurances that everything is being done to improve these figures, because at present they are alarming."
David Haley Executive Director for Children's Services said that 'a variety of rigorous and proactive procedures' are follow to locate the 'missing' children.
He said: "There are a small number of children who were on the roll of a Walsall school whose current destinations are being identified.
"Walsall's Pupil Tracking Team follows a variety of rigorous and proactive procedures to locate these children quickly.
"Cases are never closed until children are located.
"Where children are found to be resident in Walsall and are without a school place they are referred to the Council's Parent Support Adviser for support with finding an appropriate school place.
"The Children Missing Education Team then monitor the case until the child is in an appropriate educational placement."
Schools in Walsall have been criticised in recent months by community leaders, while the results of an Ofsted report in December claimed that standards in Walsall's primary schools are among the worst in the country.
The figure of 71 per cent of pupils attending primaries that meet the Government's benchmark standard puts Walsall in the bottom 5 per cent in the country.
