Bridget Phillipson responds to Ofsted’s annual report which highlights absenteeism among pupils

Bridget Phillipson MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, commenting on the Chief Inspector of Ofsted’s annual report on England’s schools, which highlights absenteeism among pupils, said:

“Persistent school absence now represents one of the gravest threats to children’s life chances, but this Conservative government has no plans to get to grips with this defining generational problem.

“Labour will make it a priority to rebuild the shattered relationship between families, schools and government to drive the high and rising standards in education that our children deserve.

“That starts with more teachers in our classrooms, more mental health support for children through community mental health hubs, mental health counselling in every secondary school and universal breakfast clubs for every primary school pupil in England.”