Pupil attendance rates in Oxfordshire have improved even though one in four children skipped school during the last academic year, Government figures have revealed.

Out of 33,913 comprehensive pupils in the county, 8,822 missed classes without permission for an average of 12 half days each, according to the Department for Education and Skills.

There were also 30,649 pupils who had an average of 20 half days off as authorised absences.

In primary schools, one in 10 pupils played truant, with 4,776 out of 40,225 pupils skipping classes without permission for an average seven half days each.

But attendance levels are improving in Oxfordshire. In 2004/5, 1.04 per cent of classes were missed by truants, compared with 1.19 per cent in 2003/4, while the national average rose sharply to 1.25 per cent.

Barry Armstrong, county council officer for attendance and reintegration, believes the levels of truancy in primary schools will reduce when the final figures are released later this year.

He said: "For secondary schools, our figures are considerably under the national average. This is down to hard work by parents, staff and the local education authority.

"Schools are recognising the importance of attendance and following up any unauthorised absences. We have always had a very pro-active approach to the use of courts, but we are not using them more than we have done in the past."

Single mother Patricia Amos, from Banbury, became the first parent in the country to be jailed after she received a 60-day sentence in 2002 for allowing her daughters to play truant from Banbury School.

At Cheney School, Oxford, truancy prevention methods have helped. Deputy head Sylvia Hawken said: "We have an absence call, an automatic response triggered at a certain time in the morning which calls every parent whose child hasn't turned up.

"We also give out sweets, trips and vouchers to reward good attendance, as well as 100 per cent attendance certificates.

"Since we introduced these methods, attendance has improved."

Witney MP and Shadow Education Secretary David Cameron said, nationally, the figures were "dreadful".

He said: "The Government has spent nearly £1bn on tackling truancy and yet it is getting worse. Simply throwing money at the situation and re-announcing initiatives is not going to solve the problem.

"The Government's proposals to 'fast track' parents of serial truants have been announced before - and have clearly not been very effective."