Education: Truancy Controversy

Education: Truancy Controversy; ITN Carole McAlpine (Head Teacher, Firfield Community School) interviewed SOT - There are youngsters whose non-attendance patterns are so entrenched that they weren't prepared to come into school at all - we make all the attempts possible to get them into school then we have to concentrate on the possible EXT GVs Newcastle Education authority offices (3 shots) INT David Bell (Director, Newcastle Education Authority) interviewed SOT - What do you do with the fifteen and sixteen year olds who won't attend and there are a hardcore of children that are in that situation - we haven't written them off - in most cases we make available our specialist centrally funded staff to support them - In some of those cases parents are quite resistant to any kind of intervention from outside Simon Kenny (Darren's Father) interviewed SOT - He just walks out Darren Kenny (truant) interviewed SOT - I just walk out - don't want to go to school EXT LS Pair of police officers on beat in housing scheme GV Derelict house GV Row of terrace houses MS Broken window on derelict house GV Run down houses on edge of strip of waste ground