Birmingham Education Service and West Midlands Police are working together to challenge unauthorised absence from school.

Absence from school damages children's education and can affect their future prospects.  It also puts them at greater risk of accidental harm, or becoming a victim or perpetrator of crime and of anti-social behaviour.

In law, parents are responsible for ensuring that their child receives an education.  Unless they have arranged for their child to be educated at home, they must register their child at a school and ensure that they attend regularly. 

• Section 437 and Section 444 Education Act 1996

Under Section 16 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, the Police has the power to remove a child or young person, who is believed to be of statutory school age and to be absent from school without good cause, from a public place and return them to school or another designated place of safety.

The Pupil Watch is a team, accompanied by Police Officers, that is on duty at various locations throughout Birmingham.  Children, whether accompanied or unaccompanied by adults during school hours, are approached to ascertain why they are not at school.

Any child found to be absent without the authority of the Head Teacher is returned to the school or taken to a place of safety.