England’s truancy rates have risen from 1.2 per cent in 2006 to 1.4 per cent last year. The score relates to the number of half-days lost to unauthorised absence. Islington Green School in north London had the highest truancy rate at 10.9 per cent - nearly eight times the national average. The school is due to close this year, to be replaced from September by the City of London Academy. Ursula Woolley, Islington Council’s executive member for children and young people, said: “The school is already showing a significant improvement for this academic year.”