![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/top-tory-says-headteachers-should-drive-to-homes-of-absent-kids-to-bring-them-to-school/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/0_Education-World-Forum.jpg&description=The surprising comments came after Tory cabinet member Gillian Keegan said she would "pick them up myself" when asked how she'd get absent children back into school Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has said headteachers "have a duty" to go to the homes of truanting pupils and bring them into school. The surprising comments came after the Tory cabinet member said she would "pick them up myself" when asked how she'd get absent children back into school. She claimed that the level of pupils skipping classes is a "crisis" - with latest data suggesting 125,000 miss more lessons than they attend. Ms Keegan, asked whether it was a good use of a headteacher's time, said it's "worth it" if it gets someone in school. The education chief, who was appointed by Rishi Sunak when he became PM last October, said she was looking at measures to tackle absenteeism. In an interview with Sky News she said: "They [headteachers] do have a duty. We all have to play our part. Sometimes you have to go [to the home] or sometimes you have to text the parent in the morning. Sometimes you just have to do whatever is possible. "That's not what we want headteachers doing all of their days. But to be honest, right now, if that works to get somebody in school, it's worth it. "I'd go pick them up myself if I could." Local authorities estimate that nearly 100,000 children are missing out on education altogether - but there is no legal requirment to keep an official register. Asked if this should change, Ms Keegan said: "It's something that my fellow MPs are very concerned about. I don't have the exact date because there is a parliamentary process we have to go through, but we do intend to put it on a statutory footing and we will do that as soon as the parliamentary time allows." It comes after Rishi Sunak yesterday announced a series of public sector pay rises - but admitted departments would have to slash their budgets in order to make them. The Education Secretary said the Government would honour){kind=link}
The surprising comments came after Tory cabinet member Gillian Keegan said she would “pick them up myself” when asked how she’d get absent children back into school
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has said headteachers “have a duty” to go to the homes of truanting pupils and bring them into school.
The surprising comments came after the Tory cabinet member said she would “pick them up myself” when asked how she’d get absent children back into school.
But the remark was branded “unhelpful” as school leaders said they “demonstrate a worrying lack of understanding of how schools operate”.
Ms Keegan claimed that the level of pupils skipping classes is a “crisis” – with latest data suggesting 125,000 miss more lessons than they attend.