Nearly three million school days were lost in the West last year because of pupil absence.

Of these, 394,000 were lost because pupils were playing truant.

Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) statistics show children in primary schools missed 1,300,000 school days in the autumn term last year and spring term this year, and teenagers in secondary schools missed 1,500,000 days.

Parents or carers can face fines of up to £100 for absence that is unauthorised, and the parents of persistent offenders could be jailed.

Primary school children missed five per cent of school sessions, and 4,282 pupils deemed "persistent absentees" missed more than 20 per cent of all school sessions.

Persistent absentees account for almost 52 per cent of truancy across primary and secondary schools in England.

In secondary schools in the West, 10,963 teenagers persistently played truant last year.

The overall truancy rate in the region's secondary schools shows pupils missed on average 1.32 per cent of school sessions.

Serial absentees account for almost 33 per cent of all absence across all state schools in England – more than five times higher than the rate for all pupils.

The most common reason for absence was illness, which accounted for 59 per cent of missed registration sessions.

Bristol pupils skip school more than children in any other part of the West, but the city council said pupils are spending more time in class than ever before.

Unauthorised absence in the city's secondary schools was 2.28 per cent – way above the national average of 1.41 per cent.

And unauthorised absence was 0.97 per cent in Bristol primary schools – above the national average of 0.56 per cent.

But the statistics show attendance in Bristol secondary schools improved by one per cent – approximately 15,000 school days last year.

Primary school attendance improved by 0.01 per cent in Bristol but fell nationally by 0.09 per cent.

The number of persistently absent pupils is continuing to fall, with eight out of 10 secondary schools targeted making good progress.

"Pupils, parents and schools should be delighted that their efforts are really paying off," said Cllr Peter Hammond, Bristol's deputy council leader.

"Schools have worked really hard over recent years to tackle holidays and medical appointments in school time, as well as reducing exclusions, which can all impact on their attendance records.

"Every hour of school missed can limit achievement so our improved record on attendance will have far-reaching benefits."

Ashton Park Secondary School deputy head teacher, Steve Smith, said the school made attendance a focus with pupils and parents last year.

"Everyone worked really hard – from tutors and support staff to heads of year and the education welfare officer," he said.

"As a result all years had attendance above 90 per cent and overall attendance rose to 91.3 per cent.

"We also made real progress with students who persistently had difficulty in attending school.

"The number of pupils with below 80 per cent attendance fell by over 60 per cent to give Ashton Park the best progress in Bristol."

Dorset had the least unauthorised absence in secondary schools, with 0.84 per cent of days lost through truancy.

Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire had the least unauthorised absence in primary schools at 0.31 per cent.

"There is clear guidance from the local authority to deter parents from taking family holidays in term time," said South Gloucestershire council.

"Our schools talk to parents at an early stage where patterns of absence are starting to occur.

"We also have robust procedures in place for issuing and pursuing fixed penalty notices in cases of persistent absences."

The DCSF said: "Primary school absence rates have gone up a tiny proportion – mainly down to widespread winter sickness bug last year and schools taking a tougher line on unauthorised absence rates."

B ut Yeovil MP and Liberal Democrat shadow children, schools and families secretary, David Laws, said the figures were deeply worrying.

"These figures make a mockery of New Labour's initial promises to make tackling truancy a priority. More kids are bunking off school now than in 1997.

"Ministers have thrown vast sums of money at this problem, but to little effect.

"It's obvious that Labour's top-down approach has failed. What is needed is a more effective local approach involving parents, schools and the police," the Somerset MP said.