Wheatley Park School is joining the war on truants -- by fining parents up to £100 if their child persistently plays truant or turns up late.

Wheatley Park School

The secondary school in Holton, which recorded high truancy levels in national figures last year, will follow Peers Technology College if it starts fixed penalty fines under the Antisocial Behaviour Act.

Figures from the Department for Education and Skills suggested more than a third of state secondary pupils in Oxford played truant at some time in 2004.

At Wheatley Park School, 4.2 per cent of half-day absences were unauthorised, compared to county and national averages of 1.2 per cent. Headteacher Kate Curtis said: "We are considering fines. It will send out a clear message to every parent about the importance of attendance and their responsibility to their child's education.

"I think the vast majority of parents would support us in taking a firm line on attendance, which is the first step in educational achievement."

School governors will meet in May to discuss the proposals which include calling parents by 9.30am if a pupil is missing, organising police truancy sweeps in the area and introducing a rewards system for good attendance.

Peers headteacher Chris Dark said that the attendance of some persistent truants had improved after their parents read about the school's plans to issue fines in the Oxford Mail. Fines will be administered by the local education authority on behalf of the school, at the request of both the headteacher and a non-teaching member of the governing body.

Barry Armstrong, Oxfordshire County Council education officer for attendance and re-integration, said a further three schools were looking into fining parents.