Third prosecution for mum for son's school absence

A mother has been prosecuted for the third time after her teenage son failed to attend school for more than two months.

The 16-year-old from Stoke-on-Trent, who did not turn up to school at all between February 6 and April 11, had 84 unauthorised absences during this time, magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard.

His mother has previously been prosecuted in 2023 and 2024 for failing to ensure regular school attendance, the court was told.

She admitted the latest charge and will be sentenced at a later date. The court heard the boy has now left the school and is enrolled on a college course which will enable him to gain qualifications.

Officers at Stoke-on-Trent City Council issued a warning about the boy's lack of school attendance in March and held an attendance review in the same month.

Home visits were also carried out, but his attendance did not improve.

Magistrates were told his mother suffered from anxiety and depression, was unable to drive and had been trying to get her son to attend school, but accepted she had given up.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.