Truancy Watch, a scheme launched by police and the Isle of Wight Council, to tackle students skipping school, has resulted in a major reduction in the number of students playing truant in Ryde.

The scheme involves businesses in the town agreeing to refuse to serve children of a school age during term between 0900 and 1500 each school day unless they are accompanied by an adult and have a good reason or a valid absence slip from their school.

The premises displays a poster in its window showing it is part of the Truancy Watch scheme. The council and officers from Hampshire Constabulary also carry out regular truancy sweeps around the town and return children to school who are out of lessons without a valid excuse.

Despite Truancy Watch running in Ryde for less than a year, there has already been a 66% reduction in the number of students caught truanting compared to the previous school year.

Such has been the success of the scheme in Ryde and also Newport, there are plans to extend it into Sandown and Shanklin this September.

PC Sue Gill from the Ryde South Safer Neighbourhood Team

Numerous truancy sweeps have been conducted by Ryde Safer Neighbourhood Team in conjunction with the Council and local schools.

Pupils are now aware that if caught out of lessons during school hours without appropriate permission, they will be taken back to school, and issued with a warning, which results in their parents being informed.

It is clear schemes such as Truancy Watch and the partnership approach is making a significant impression within the local community, as reported by residents, and by a two-thirds reduction in truancy in the town in the past ten months.”

Isle of Wight Council’s Cabinet member for Children and Young People Alan Wells said:

“The results show the message is getting across that the council, schools and the police take the issue of truanting very seriously. Shops and businesses not serving pupils during school times does act as a deterrent because it takes away a main reason why students may decide to skip school and go into town.

Young people who may think of truanting must understand that their education is vital to their future lives, and the council and its partners will continue to combat truancy throughout the school year.