In secondary schools, the attendance record of Dundee pupils is the third worst in the country.

Primary and secondary schools in Dundee had absence levels well above the country’s average although each of the last three years has shown a slight improvement.

For Dundee primary pupils, the average number of half days was 359, five above the average for Glasgow, whilst average absences amounted to 21.1 half days. That translated into an attendance level of 94.4%.

In Angus and Perth and Kinross the attendance level was 95.9% and in Fife it was 95%.

Dundee secondary pupils couldn’t match the attendance of primary youngsters, recording an attendance level of just 90% (342 half days).

The figures for Angus, Perth and Kinross and Fife were 92.7%, 90.4% and 90.1% respectively.

Overall, Dundee pupils’ attendance and absence levels are the third poorest behind Glasgow and North Lanarkshire.

Most absences in Dundee schools (3.3%) were for sickness with 1.3% of those unexplained.

However, attendances have increased from 91.7 in 2005/06 to 92.5% for 2007/08 and absences have fallen from 8% to 7.4%.

Temporary exclusions, on a percentage basis, are more or less the same across all Scottish schools although Dundee’s level has fallen from 0.2% three years ago to 0.1%.

The local authority with the best attendance record is East Renfrewshire with a rate of 95.6%. Overall rates for Glasgow and North Lanarkshire were 91.1% and 92.1%.

The figures also revealed 81% of pupils had an attendance of 90% or above and 35,000 pupils (5%) had perfect attendance records.

On average, there were around 45,000 pupils (7%) absent each day of the school year of which about 660 were temporarily excluded.

The publication cited a variety of factors including deprivation, having additional support needs and being looked after by the local authority as likely to increase absence levels.

Dundee City Council’s education convener, Laurie Bidwell, said, “The rate of attendance at Dundee schools has increased, while absence has decreased. The education department is working hard to ensure there are even more improvements. There are a number of strategies in place.”