Serial truanting in England's schools is increasing, according to new government figures.

About 60,000 of the three million secondary school pupils accounted for half of all absenteeism from schools last year.

Attendance however, is at record levels, with 17,000 more children attending school this year than in 2003.

Stephen Twigg, the schools minister, said: "A stubborn minority of pupils, often with parental collusion, remain determined to jeopardise their education and their futures through persistent truancy."