Thomas Clarkson Wisbech

A FRESH crackdown on truancy has seen the parents of a Thomas Clarkson Academy student in court bringing to approximately 30 similar prosecutions this year.

In the latest case parents were given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs of £150 each, while the parents of a pupil at the County School in March were given a 12-month conditional discharge with no costs.

The parents of a student at Meadowgate School in Wisbech were given a 12-month parenting order.

The mother of another student at Thomas Clarkson Academy agreed to engage with support services and was given a 12-month conditional discharge with £50 costs.

The parents of three other students failed to attend court and were fined £400 with £150 costs in their absence.

Four further parents were found guilty in their absence of similar offences, but sentencing was adjourned until a later date.

All the cases were heard at King’s Lynn Magistrates’ Court. None of the defendants can be named for legal reasons.

Lesley High, Thomas Clarkson Academy Education Welfare Officer, said: “The court has taken the view in this case that parents need to do more to make sure their children go to school and I welcome that decision.

“A good education should open up a bright and exciting future for our young people. Parents need to work together with schools to ensure that children attend regularly and make the most of the opportunities provided for them.”

In the summer fines and parenting orders were handed out as 14 more prosecutions were brought in a Wisbech truancy crackdown.

Four of the cases heard at King’s Lynn Magistrates’ Court then involved parents who had previously been convicted but whose children’s attendance had not improved.

And in the spring parents of six pupils at Thomas Clarkson were prosecuted.