HUNDREDS of pupils are missing from Brighton and Hove’s schools each day, figures show.

Figures from the Department for Education show that on average 1,290 pupils were out of school every day during the first term of this school year - and around one in five of those absences were unauthorised.

Pupils between the ages of five and 15 in state schools in Brighton and Hove missed an average of 3 days over the autumn term. With 28,000 enrolled in the area’s schools, that means 80,000 teaching days were lost. And 3,338 pupils were classed as persistently absent, meaning they missed more than 10 per cent of their total lesson time.

Local councils can impose fines of £60 on parents for not ensuring their children attend school, rising to £120 if not paid within 21 days.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Children only get one chance at an education and evidence shows that every extra day of school missed can affect a pupil’s chances of achieving good GCSEs. The rules on term-time absences are clear and we have put schools back in control by supporting them - and local authorities - to use their powers to deal with unauthorised absence.”

The majority of absences from Brighton and Hove’s schools during the autumn term - 78 per cent - were authorised. Illness accounted for 63% of time out of school.

Other reasons given for authorising absence include medical appointments, religious observances or holiday.

Just 5 per cent of absences were recorded as being for unauthorised holidays, but a further 14 per cent were unauthorised with no reason stated. Brighton and Hove’s secondary school pupils missed 3.7 days of teaching on average, more than primary school children, who missed 2.5 days.