The mother and grandmother of a boy who failed to attend school for more than four months have both faced court action.

The women, who live at two separate addresses, both admitted failing to ensure the teenager attended school regularly between November 6 and March 22.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was transferred to a different school to his previous one, but didn't like using the bus, magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre were told on Monday (June 3. Tracey Middleweek, prosecuting on behalf of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "A bus pass had been provided to support and encourage him to attend.

"(The boy's mother) was aware that Year 11 is important and (the grandmother) agreed to transport him to and from school. Both were advised of the consequences of continued absence from school.

"Since April he has been attending school. He has sat GCSE exams which are taking place currently and I understand, in relation to post-16 provision, the family are in the process of sorting this out."

The family attended North Staffordshire Justice Centre on Monday 3 June (Wiki Commons).

The grandmother told magistrates the boy was "a troubled lad" but was now setting his sights on attending college. She added: "When he was (at school) he couldn't keep still.

"We had to work to get him back in (to his previous school). When he went to (the other school) he didn't like the bus and he wanted to come home.

"I got social workers involved. His support worker used to try and get him out of bed for me but he wouldn't move.

"He's a clever boy and I wanted him to do his exams. I'm proud of him because he has gone back into school – he has changed a lot."

The mother and grandmother were each given a conditional discharge for six months. They will have to each pay a £26 victim surcharge and costs of £117.61 however.

Magistrate Neil Lomas told the pair: "It is very clear that (the boy) has had a difficult Key Stage Four to say the least. But now he is 16 he is going to move onto the next stage.

"You are both still responsible for his education. You still need to get him to where he needs to be, otherwise he will end up with nothing."

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