GOVERNMENT plans to charge parents of truanting children on-the-spot fines received a panning from a Droitwich headteacher.

Headteachers, council officers or police could hand out fixed penalty notices from £25 to £100 if they catch children out of class without permission.

Prosecuted

The Government aims to reinforce existing laws, which can see parents prosecuted by local authorities and provide a more immediate response to the problem.

But the headteacher of Droitwich Spa High School, Allan Foulds, is not convinced that this is the best way to tackle the issue.

He said: "Here at Droitwich Spa High School, our attendance is on the up, with a 94 per cent attendance rate. That is not to say that we are complacent about the other six per cent.

"We take the issue very seriously but we believe in working with the community and not against them and I feel if we aggravate parents we will introduce conflict."

Droitwich Spa High School deals with its truants by talking to them and their parents.

Pupils are awarded for excellence in attendance.

In extreme cases, the school works with other services, including the Education Welfare Service, to tackle parental oversights.

An Audit Commission school survey found Worcestershire County Council's promotion of attendance in the top section of authorities. Across the county, 185 parents were prosecuted for truancy during 2002/2003. And this is likely to increase this year.

Steven Wilkinson, county council principal education welfare officer, said: "Worcestershire County Council is considered to be a high performing authority in this area and our work has increased since last year.

"As a result, school attendance across the county has been increasing steadily for a number of years."

Adult learning minister Ivan Lewis said: "Children have a fundamental right to an education and parents must play their part in supporting the schools by ensuring that their child attends school regularly and behaves well.

"While the vast majority of parents carry out this responsibility effectively, it is a sad fact that a minority do not."

Under the proposals, the fine starts at £25 if paid within 14 days, but could double if they do not agree - and reach £100 if payment is late.