Term hols up but fines fall

THE number of children taken out of school for term-time holidays has hit a record high while the number of penalties fell.

In total 56.7 million days were missed in 2016-17, compared to 54.8 million in the previous year.

Yet 149,321 fines were handed out, as opposed to the 157,879 of 2015-16.

It is thought parents risked fines after a father’s High Court victory in May 2016 over taking his girl to Disney World. But he later lost at the Supreme Court.