Orders made on missing pupils

Two mothers who failed to ensure their children attended school were given community orders.

Christine Southall of Hawksford Crescent, Low Hill, Wolverhampton, admitted knowingly failing to ensure her 14-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter regularly turn up for classes.

At Wolverhampton Magistrates Court Southall, 38, yesterday also admitted committing an offence while subject to a conditional discharge given in September — also for failing to ensure a child's attendance at school.

Mrs Tracey Christie, prosecuting for Wolverhampton City Council, said the authority and education welfare officers tried to contact Southall to discuss her son's high absence rate from

Our Lady and St Chad Catholic Sports College and her daughter's attendance at Moreton School, both in Old Fallings Lane, Bushbury.

District Judge Anita Price gave Southall a 12-month community order with supervision and ordered her to do 40 hours of unpaid work. She must pay costs of £120.

Selina Coyne admitted failing to ensure her son, 12, attended Deansfield Community School on a regular basis. He achieved 50 per cent attendance in Year 7.

He transferred to Braybrook Centre pupil referral unit, Wednesfield, where his attendance failed to meet targets. Coyne, aged 36, of Prosser Street, Park Village, got a six-month community order with supervision.