Parents get a text message within minutes

Ferryhill Business and Enterprise College, near Durham, is the first school in the north-east of England to introduce the system to combat truancy.

If youngsters do not turn up for class, a text message is sent to the pupil's parents, asking them to confirm the child has good reason to be away.

The system has already been successfully trialled in parts of Wales and Ireland.

Recent government figures show more than 50,000 youngsters a day are skipping school.

Steve Gater, head teacher of the 800-pupil former comprehensive school, said: "By texting parents, we are sending a powerful signal to them and their children that absence is not to be tolerated.

"When they start work employers will not tolerate absenteeism, so we believe the habit of regular attendance should be instilled at an early age.

"We do not have a major problem with truancy, but text messaging has reduced the level of unauthorised absenteeism."

School secretary Clare I'Anson, who is responsible for contacting parents, said: "Parents usually ring back within minutes to explain why their children are either not at school or late for register.

"From a safety aspect it is a big advantage.

"If a child fails to turn up both ourselves and the parents know within minutes."