Term-time holiday fines soar by 55% in crackdown
FINES dished out to parents for taking their children on holiday during term time have increased by more than 50 per cent amid a crackdown by the Government.
New figures show more than 74,000 fines worth a total of £4.5million were imposed on parents for unauthorised holidays over the past school year.
This was a 55 per cent increase on the 47,157 fines imposed in 2013 to 2014, when around £2.8million in penalties was taken from families.
The rise suggests schools and councils have become stricter in handing out fines since the ban on term-time holidays was introduced in 2013.
Previously, head teachers were given discretion to grant permission for short periods of absence – allowing families to book holidays in
‘No wonder parents are confused’
cheaper, off-peak times. But Michael Gove, the then Education Secretary, changed official guidelines so that schools can now only give their blessing in ‘exceptional circumstances’ – such as a funeral.
But many parents flout the rules and factor in the fines of £60 per child into holiday budgets. The figures emerged in response to Freedom of Information requests sent to all 151 local education authorities last month, with 70 per cent replying.
The research revealed most councils are strict about imposing fines, with the exceptions of North Tyneside Council, Milton Keynes Council, Warrington Borough Council and London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames, which are more lenient.
It comes after Isle of Wight father Jon Platt won a High Court case overturning his fine for taking his daughter to Florida during term time. He had refused to pay the fine, arguing the law only required attendance ‘regularly’ rather than ‘every day’. Isle of Wight Council has vowed to appeal against the decision, and ministers told head teachers to ignore it. The Government has said it will change the law to close the loophole.
However, a survey of 562 parents found two-thirds are confused about whether they will be fined for termtime holiday following the ruling. And around 21 per cent said they plan to take a term-time holiday in the next school year despite the Government’s warning.
Parents can save hundreds on a break outside designated school holidays, when travel companies raise prices. Some schools and councils are trying to help parents get around the rules by changing the dates of official holidays so parents can take advantage of off-peak prices.
Nikki Sellers, head of travel at insurance firm esure, which carried out the research, said: ‘It’s no wonder parents are feeling confused. On one hand, they see a father told he was allowed to take his child on holiday, while some local councils are still enforcing fines on those who do.’ The Department for Education has been contacted for comment.