BURY students are helping fellow pupils come face to face with the problems of playing truant -- by being pictured on campaign posters.

Three of the Year 11 students chaired a meeting at the Town Hall attended by local education chiefs to launch the new initiative to boost school attendance figures in the borough.

It marked the official start of the "Improving attendance, raising achievement" campaign which will plaster a series of themed posters against truancy across the borough in schools, libraries, supermarkets and health centres to target not only children but also their parents.

Christopher Gilmartin and Stacy Horsfield from Elton High School along with Woodhey High School student Sam Dean, who star in the posters along with fellow local students, spoke to a 50-strong audience which included Councillor Trevor Holt, chairman of Lifelong Learning, Mr Harold Williams, chief education officer, and Mr Alan Cogswell, head of education and welfare. Deputy head girl Stacy called for teachers, students and parents to work together to boost attendance figures and listed steps that each party could take.

"The curriculum should meet the needs of pupils. Teachers should make lessons more interesting," said Stacy , a keen dancer who eventually hopes to attend Sir Paul McCartney's College of Performing Arts in Liverpool.

"Our first teachers are our parents. The support they provide is vital. I am successful at school because my parents help me. Parents can help with their child's homework, attend parents evenings and book dental appointments for after school."

Sam Dean, who said his favourite thing about school was meeting up with his friends, stressed how important good school attendance was.

"I have not yet decided on a career but I know that I want to go to college. I know that I need GCSEs."

Sam pointed out that in schools where attendance was a high priority good exam results usually followed.

Coun Holt said that although every high school in the borough had at least a 90 per cent average attendance rate, he would not be getting complacent.

"Recently, we have been concentrating on taking action, often through the courts, against parents or guardians who do not ensure their children attend school on a regular basis. While that will continue, we now also want to emphasise the benefits of regular attendance and drive this message home not just to the children but also to their mums and dads."

Mr Cogswell added that over the coming months they would build on the poster campaign by resuming town centre truancy patrols, pursuing court actions and possibly holding a special awards ceremony for students with good attendance records

"Regular attendance at school is an absolute necessity if we are to provide young people with the very best start in life."