Almost 2,000 Shropshire parents fined over term-time holidays
Nearly 2,000 parents have been fined for taking their children out of Shropshire schools for unauthorised holidays in the last year, new figures have revealed.
The Department of Education statistics show a huge rise in the number of parents receiving the fines – up from 825 in 2016/17, to 1,994 in 2017/18.
In the Shropshire Council area the number has jumped from 241 to 584, while the Telford & Wrekin Council area has seen the number of fines nearly treble from 584 to 1,571.
Both councils have defended the situation, insisting it is schools that decide on imposing the fines, and the councils that have to administer them.
The fines have proved controversial, with some parents willing to risk the potential cost to capitalise on the savings in the price of off-peak holidays.
Pricing to blame?
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said the problem was the issue of the pricing of holidays and suggested the government intervene.
He said: "The NAHT has clear and reasonable guidance on what constitutes exceptional circumstances.
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"However, the system of fines is clearly too blunt an instrument and in many cases it drives a wedge between schools and families.
"The real problem is holiday pricing. Neither parents nor schools set the prices of holidays.
"They will both continue to be caught between a rock and hard place without some sensible Government intervention."
Action
Telford & Wrekin Council has insisted it only takes action if asked to by headteachers.
Elisabeth Smith, service delivery manager for school performance and development at the authority said: “Under the law we must take legal action if headteachers ask us to. We comply with government guidelines and court rulings. We very much see prosecution as the last resort.”
Christine Kerry, Shropshire Council’s education access service manager, added: "Shropshire schools and Shropshire Council continue to work in line with government policy and adhere to current legislation regarding unauthorised absence from school.
“The attendance of pupils in Shropshire is recognised as being consistently high and this is due to parents, carers, schools and the council working together to ensure all pupils are able to access the education to which they are entitled.
"Following work undertaken by Shropshire Council and schools over a number of years to raise awareness of how children are disadvantaged by unnecessary absence from school, the majority of parents and carers do recognise this and support the DfE policy by ensuring their children attend school on a regular basis.”
