Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

CASTLE VIEW SCHOOL PROVES TEXTING’ SUCCESS - Truancy Rates are down to just 0.5%

Castle View School, a comprehensive school, situated on Canvey Island, Essex has successfully reduced its truancy rates to 0.5% - this includes parent approved truancy - the total opposite of the recently published governing figures for 2006-7, which, it is stated, show that truancy rates in England are worse than ever.

Castle View has successfully reduced its truancy statistics from 2% ten years ago using a combination of strategies - the presence of a dedicated Attendance Officer working within the school, computerised lesson resignation and a text messaging solution linked to its electronic ‘registers’. Non attendance notification can be automatically communicated to parents and this has proved to be a good ‘deterrent’ to errant pupils.

The text solution chosen by Castle View School is Text Message Server, supplied by Avanquest Solutions. The software was easy to install and integrates with Castle View’s Schools Information System (SIMS). Contact information for parents, including a designated priority mobile phone number is held within SIMS.

Staff registers pupils’ attendance at each lesson, with the 1st period acting as the statutory morning registration. By running a report, the Attendance Office can monitor general attendance at school and also any trends affecting a particular lesson or subject.

Parents are immediately notified by text if their child fails to turn up for registration, with a request to contact the school to provide a reason for absence. The text messages are created and sent from the desktop through Text Message Server and delivered directly to the mobile phone.

“We shall always have a degree of absence because of illness and unauthorised absence (e.g. we do not generally authorise holiday absence)” said Russell Sullivan, Headteacher at Castle View School. “However we are confident that general truancy is identified and dealt with; we are delighted with the reduction in ‘real’ truancy – in a school of 900 pupils 0.5% represents a significant reduction, but a manageable number on which to focus. We all feel that the texting service has had a positive impact”.

Further information about Text Message Server can be found at http://www.textmessageserver.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

Avanquest and Castle View School are both available for interview.

About Avanquest Software:

Avanquest Software is a global developer and leading publisher of best-selling personal and professional software designed for utilities, office productivity, communications and mobility worldwide. Avanquest Software products are marketed in over 100 countries, through ecommerce, OEM partnerships and IT resellers. Founded in 1984 as BVRP Software and listed since December 1996 on Euronext (ISIN FR0004026714), Avanquest Software forms part of the Eurolist, NextEconomy segment and SBF 250 index.

Additional information on Avanquest Software is available at www.avanquest.co.uk

Contact:

Press Information:

Alison Hall
Email: ahall@avanquest.co.uk
Tel: 01752 241464
Mobile: 07500 012122