School hols ruling sparks debate

The news that a father has lost a landmark legal battle at the UK’s highest court over taking his daughter to Disney World during school term time has caused a big debate among Echo readers.

Five justices at the Supreme Court unanimously allowed an appeal by education chiefs against an earlier ruling that Jon Platt had not acted unlawfully.

Mr Platt, who took his daughter on a seven-day family trip to Florida in April 2015 without the school’s permission, was prosecuted by Isle of Wight Council after he refused to pay a £120 penalty.

But local magistrates found there was no case to answer.

Two High Court judges in London later upheld the magistrates’ decision, declaring Mr Platt was not acting unlawfully because his daughter had a good overall attendance record of over 90%.

They said the magistrates were entitled to take into account the “wider picture” of the child’s attendance record outside of the dates she was absent on the holiday.

In an action closely watched by schools and parents all over the country, the council urged the Supreme Court to overturn the High Court decision, saying it raised important issues over what constitutes “regular attendance” at school.

In a poll on the Echo website, which asked: “Would being fined put you off taking children on holiday in term time?” 15% said yes while 85% said no.

Sunderland Conservative councillor Robert Oliver welcomed the ruling, saying: “Education should be valued more than taking holidays so the Supreme Court judgement is good news for schools and the many parents who avoid taking their children out of school.”

Sunderland City Council said its policy over fining parents for non-attendance at school did not change during the time the case was being investigated.