A Number Of Parents ined for Taking Thier Children Out Of Lessons For Trips

File photo of a Costa del Sol beach near Torremolinos.

 Photo: PA Archive

The number of fines given to parents for taking their children on holiday during term time has almost trebled in two years.

Figures show that in the last academic year alone, at least 50,414 penalty notices were issued due to children being taken out of lessons for trips.

The figures, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by the Press Association, have increased a quarter on the year before, when at least 40,218 penalties were given out.



The number of fines is up 173% from the 18,484 fines handed out by local authorities in 2012/13. These figures cover 71 councils that provided data for all three years.

The hikes come in the wake of a Government crackdown on absence, including strict new rules on term-time holidays introduced in England two years ago.

Headteachers said that while there are times when children have to miss school, holidays are not a valid reason.

The school absence reforms introduced in 2013 have proved controversial, with some parents arguing they have the biggest impact on those who cannot afford high travel costs during school breaks and families with parents that work shifts.

Lancashire Council handed out the most holiday fines last year at 3,907.

There will be times when children have to miss school because of problems such as illness and family emergencies.

Schools are very sympathetic in these cases and will help children catch up with work. However, term time holidays are not a valid reason to miss school.
– BRIAN LIGHTMAN, GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL AND COLLEGE LEADERS (ASCL)

The future of holiday fines was thrown into question last week when father Jon Platt, 44, won a court battle after refusing to pay a £120 fine for taking his six year-old daughter out of school to go to Disney World, Florida.
It is a myth that missing school even for a short time is harmless to a child's education.

Our evidence shows missing the equivalent of just one week a year from school can mean a child is significantly less likely to achieve good GCSE grades, having a lasting effect on their life chances.

– A DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION SPOKESMAN


Source: itv