WORCESTER'S MP Robin Walker has welcomed figures showing the number of pupils who are persistently absent from school is at a record low.

Statistics published by the Department for Education illustrate the percentage of pupils who are absent from school - whether authorised or unauthorised.

Worcestershire’s primary school figure is equal to the national average at 3.9 per cent overall absence.

The county's secondary school figure stands at 4.8 per cent - below the English average of 5.1 per cent.

The number of 'persistent absentees' - who were absent for 38 or more sessions - in Worcestershire was 1,069 in primary schools and 1,866 in secondary schools.

Figures for unauthorised absence are 0.7 per cent in primary schools and 1 per cent in secondary schools.

Mr Walker said: “I know that absence from school has been a major concern for teachers and headteachers in Worcestershire over a long period of time and I am glad that the situation is improving both nationally and locally.

"There is still further to go on reducing persistent absence to ensure that every child has the best chance of a good education but I congratulate Worcestershire’s schools, parents and pupils on the progress that has been made.”

In his role as chair of the f40 group for fairer funding, Mr Walker has led a cross-party campaign for fairer funding on behalf of underfunded areas and supporting the increases the pupil premium.

In the 2009/10 academic year, the national figures showed that 439,105 pupils were persistently absent from school.

Last year, the figure was down to 262,255 – a reduction of 176,850.

A total of 25.7 million school days were missed – compared with 45.8 million before 2010.

The overall absence rate is also down, from 6.4 per cent in 2007 and 6 per cent in 2010 to 4.4 per cent in spring 2014.