Son skipping lessons

[xAnnax]

My 13 year old son (who turns 14 soon) is skipping lessons. The first I heard of it was just a few days ago. He came out of school 11.30 (while I was out shopping in another town) because he had forgotten to take his inhaler to school (which he never usually forgets) and he happened to be very breathless at school. School had told him not to go anywhere and they couldn't give him another inhaler to use (as they hadn't noticed his school one had run out until just a day earlier, and at this point I had to wait for the doctor to approve my son's prescription for more inhalers.)
They rang me up and told me that he had snuck out of school. Minutes earlier, my son had already rang from home to say he was at home and was getting in his inhaler. I asked if he was ok etc.. he said he was so I said that school had rang and he ought to get back to school as quickly as possible as his teachers were not pleased he had snuck out. He explained to me he didn't want to sneak out but he was worried that is asthma would get worse and his teachers weren't really listening to his concerns so felt it was his only option. I told him to explain his reasons to the teacher when he got back and to just apologise and assure them he wouldn't do it again. But assured him, I understood his reasons.
His teachers complained that on his return he was being rude, something about him saying he didn't care about getting a detention. When home, I asked him why he had been rude and he said that they were having a 'go' at him for getting his inhaler. And he felt like he was being punished for 'just trying to get his breathing under control' as that is why he had left in the first place. He told me that he had told them 'I don't care about getting a detention as my breathing was more important."
I told him he could of got his point across without being rude. And that he should do the detention.
Anyway, today a few days later I get a call from school saying that my son had skipped a lesson and they couldn't find him during this lesson and he suddenly turned up the next lesson. And he's done this a few times already but has always been found somewhere in the school/or on school grounds. This is the first I have heard of this, and they are now putting him on report. I feel like this has escalated rather quickly due to them not informing me sooner. I'm wondering how I can correct this and the best way to go about it as I don't want it to continue or get worse.
My son has never done this in primary school and I would have teachers praising how good he was (minus he lack of concentration), he's in year 9 now and ever since he started high school I have seen a change in his behaviour. It happened gradually, with him being more cheeky to me and his dad and getting exited from a few lessons for swinging on his chair and not paying attention and talking to his mates during in class. This happened about 5 times. But then there was a period of a year where he was being very good. Then, this happens.
My son does find school work hard, he struggles with English and reading the most. He also has little concentration something that he's always had, so is nothing new to us. So I am wondering if this may the reason, that he finds school work to hard. He's admitted he finds it hard to me in the past when I have asked him about it.
Another reason could be that he is hanging around with a new group of friends, who me and his dad do not know that well. As they live in a different area. So not sure if it is this or not. He's a happy enough kid usually, although can be argumentative at times especially with his brother.

Has anybody had this happen to them?

What's the best way to deal with this? I was thinking explaining to him how important school is and stopping his pocket money and grounding him. Or maybe reward him for not skipping class? Any suggestions are appreciated.

I was thinking about showing him the penalties I will have to face if he skips lessons.. maybe he will realise the potential trouble I will get in.

I know parents can get fined etc.. for skipping school. But what are the consequences for skipping lessons. Does anybody know? Or is it the same?

[IceMagic]

I'm not sure what to advise but bumping this for you.

[LIZS]

What measures are school putting in place, like a report card to be signed at every lesson. Is there a pattern to which lessons he is missing? He needs to understand that going missing , especially when unwell, is not acceptable as the school have a duty of care to him during the school day and would have been responsible had anything happened to him.

[BarbarianMum]

OK you need an urgent meeting with the school. Your ds did exactly the right thing - kids have died at secondary because theyve been refused an inhaler.

When you meet with them, you need to inform them that the law has changed. Schools are now allowed (in fact encouraged) to keep reliever inhalers (the blue salbutamol ones) in their first aid kit and these can be given to any asthmatic child if needed. Asthma UK has more information about this if you need it.

Deal with the skipping lessons separately to this.

[Caroelle]

He’s hit the age where he is starting to push boundaries and is probably finding the work harder than before as our education system is very rigid and purely results led. Add in new friends, more and more testosterone and you have the recipe for the perfect storm. It’s really important that you and school work together and that he sees you reinforcing the importance of not skipping lessons. However you do need the school to help both of you to identify where his weaknesses (and strengths) are. Some additional tuition may help. I would be wary of rewarding him for not skipping classes, he has to go to school, but may be incentivise him to come off report? Be very clear what the consequences for him and for you will be if his behaviour continues, and be prepared to carry through any negative consequences.

[MadForlt]

I'm confused. How did you manage to tell your son that the school had phoned, when he phoned you 'minutes earlier'.