BASILDON Council leader Gavin Callaghan has today (Friday, 25 October) called for urgent and united action to address the growing truancy crisis in two secondary schools in the area, which have recently been named among the worst in the country for absenteeism.

Basildon Upper Academy was named as the worst secondary school in the country for unauthorised absences, with Lower Academy fourth worst.

Speaking about the issue, Cllr Callaghan said: "This is a crisis that goes beyond education and I'm utterly at a loss to explain why county education bosses aren't gripping this issue. It's about the future of our young people, the health of our community, and the strength of our local economy. Truancy rates in these schools are simply unacceptable and educational attainment in the borough is flatlining. If we don't act now, we risk condemning an entire generation to unemployment, poverty, and disengagement."

Cllr Jessica Power, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Skills and Local Economy, said:" When young people aren't at school, they're not just missing out on lessons – they're missing out on opportunities that shape their future. And the consequences affect us all – our businesses and the social fabric of our communities."

In response to the situation, Cllr Callaghan and Cllr Power are calling for a collaborative approach involving not just schools, but also parents, local businesses, and community organisations. The Council has written to the Basildon Academies Trust and Essex County Council called for a task force to be established to tackle truancy and educational attainment in Basildon.

Cllr Callaghan said: "This isn't just the schools' problem. It's going to take all of us – parents, businesses, key partners – to get behind our young people and give them the support they need to stay in school. We're prepared to put our time, energy and money in to making this happen, but we can't do it alone.

"This is about more than just fixing a short-term problem. It's about building a long-term culture of success and opportunity for our young people. We need to act now – the future of our community depends on it."