Truancy affecting all levels, says body

CHILDREN from middle-class backgrounds are skipping school as much as those from less well-off areas, according to the head of the agency tackling school absence.

Eddie Ward, chief executive of the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB), said the problem of truancy was common in every part of the country. The fact is

revealed in end-of-year reports being sent to the board by schools over the last few weeks.