'Staggering' number of fines over absenteeism

SCHOOL absenteeism is still a hot topic among parents

MORE than 2,100 fines were issued to parents whose child had an unauthorised school absence last year, figures reveal.

The figures, obtained by law firm Simpson Millar through freedom of information requests, revealed that across the UK more than 114,000 fines were issued to parents in the 2015-16 school year for unauthorised absence.

If a school notifies the local council that a child has had unauthorised absence, the council can issue the parents with a £60 fixed-penalty notice which rises to £120 if it isn't paid within 21 days.

If all 114,165 fines issued by the 105 councils that responded to the request were paid within 21 days, it would amount to £6,849,900.

The data also highlights significant regional differences, with Suffolk, Lancashire, Bradford, Manchester, Hampshire and Essex each issuing more than 4,000 penalty notices in the past year compared to Oxfordshire where69 were issued.

Oldham Council issued 2,149 fines - the second highest number in Greater Manchester, with only Manchester City Council issuing more (4,579).

By comparison, Rochdale only issued 295 during the past school year.

Councillor Amanda Chadderton, Cabinet member for education and early years, said: "Oldham Council is committed to improving educational and skills levels across the borough and that is why school attendance has to remain a priority.

"Any time out of school has the potential to damage a child's education.

"The council works with parents to ensure children are in school during term time and do not take unauthorised time off.

"Since a recent ruling by Appeal Court judges Oldham Council ­- as well as many other local authorities ­- has suspended the prosecution of parents for taking their children out of school to go on holiday. We are waiting on the government to address this matter via legislation.

"We still prosecute parents whose children have a poor school attendance. If being taken out of school to go on holiday results in a pupil's overall attendance being unsatisfactory, their parents will be prosecuted as normal."

If a fine is not paid, reminders are sent out and eventually court proceedings are started in the penalty remains unpaid.

Solicitor Julie Robertson from Simpson Millar, who specialises in helping families challenge unreasonable fines, said: "These figures are quite frankly staggering.

"Even though some cities clearly have more schoolchildren on their books than others, it seems that certain areas are particularly prolific when it comes to handing out fines for unauthorised absence.

"What one head teacher agrees are special circumstances, another doesn't. It is a postcode lottery. We need more consistency and, in some areas, more common sense.

"Some schools are using their discretion appropriately where the parents are sensible in their choices and decisions. Others seem to be rather abundant in slapping parents with a fine regardless of the circumstances."

She added that parents should to be given clear and independent guidance about how they can challenge an Education Penalty Notice when it is issued and is calling on schools and councils to take a "common-sense approach" to term-time absence.

"Being on holiday, especially for those children for whom it is a rare occasion, is both educational and hugely valuable on a number of levels.

"It seems that, in some regions, rules are all that matter.

"I urge head teachers to consider requests for unauthorised absence seriously, and to issue fines in the context of each child's attendance record and circumstances."