YORK schools have a worse truancy record than those in other parts of

North Yorkshire, according to Government figures.

Pupils in the city missed 26,500 half days in the school year 1998-99 through

unauthorised absences.

This was 0.8 per cent of the total of half days in the academic year.

In Ryedale, Selby, the Vale of York and Harrogate the figure was 0.2 per cent,

and in Scarborough and Whitby 0.6 per cent.

The average for England was 0.7 per cent.

The highest was Regent's Park and Kensington North in London at 3 per cent,

and the lowest Buckingham, Cotswold in Gloucestershire, and Crosby on

Merseyside at 0.1 per cent.