My DS is 13 (Yr 9). Since the start of the year he has failed to go to school on at least 5, possibly as many as 10 occasions. The latest is today. He has a detention (because he forgot/couldn't be bothered to do) a piece of homework, and I expect he hasn't gone in to get out of it, his previous absences have been for the same reason - or because he hasn't done a piece of homework so has stayed at home to finish it. Or just because school is boring, he felt a bit tired and didn't feel like going in. When he does go in he is usually late even though the school is at most a 10 minute walk (closer to 5) from our house.
His school is v poor academically and their unauthorised absence rate is massive, so although I get a call to say he's not there, they don't do anything more, as far as they're concerned it's just one less pupil to manage.
I am at the end of my tether. I can take away his Xbox or phone, but it makes no difference, he'll stop for a couple of weeks then just do it again and again, he always does. I've tried to explain the importance of school attendance time & again but he says most of the time he learns very little so what's the point? At the rate he is going I can see him ending up with crap GCSEs and losing any chance of university or a decent job.