Not a word to describe the present schoolboys (7)
I believe the answer is:
truants
'present schoolboys' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'not a word to describe the' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'not' could be 'nt' (synonyms) and 'nt' is located in the answer.
'a' is found in the answer.
'the' could be 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects) and 't' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'rus' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for truants that I've seen before include "Skivers" , "They're absent from school without leave" , "They're absent from school without permission" , "Absentees from school" .)