Record number of parents brought to court over children not attending school

A record number of court summonses and formal warnings were issued to parents last year over their children missing school — even though the conviction rate dropped.

Figures collated by the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) show 175 court summons were sent to parents in 2013 — 42 more than in 2012.

The number of warnings or school attendance notices (SANs) issued to parents also hit an all-time high: 493 last year involving 287 children. There were 423 SANs the previous year. The previous year 423 SANS were sent to parents.