Parents Fined Over £10 Million For Taking Children Out Of School During Term Time

Published on: 19 Mar, 2025
Updated on: 22 Mar, 2025

By Esme Campbell

National fines for term-time holidays are mounting, as councils across England stay vigilant in issuing penalties for unauthorised school absences.

With 180,000 fines issued across the UK during the 2022/2023 school year, resulting in a total of £10 million, the importance of high attendance at school isn’t being taken lightly by education authorities.

Since then, the cost of unauthorised absences has increased, with the government raising the fine from £60 to £80 as of August 2024. Being issued three fines within three years now also makes parents liable to prosecution.

The Guildford Dragon has requested data from Surrey County Council on school absence fees issued in the Guildford Borough and is waiting on a response to a Freedom of Information request.

Research conducted by My 1st Years reveals the top Google-searched questions about term-time truancies and fines. A total of 1,800 searches every month ask “How many unauthorised absences are allowed?” This is followed by “Do both parents have to pay school fines if separated?”, receiving 1,000 searches per month, and “How to avoid school fines?” asked 510 times per month.

Schools have employed strict rules around attendance, and rarely grant time off unless for exceptional circumstances, such as bereavement or a parent returning from deployment in the military. 

Fines are granted per child, per parent, so separated parents will both be charged regardless. Although there are exceptions where councils may exercise discretion based on custody arrangements, many apply fines equally, despite which parent booked the holiday. The cost doubles if not paid within 21 days. 

Consistent school absences pose concerns. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in the proportion of students with high absence levels.

Persistent absence – defined as missing 10 per cent or more of school sessions by the Department for Education – has been connected to lower GCSE attainment among key stage 4 pupils, with only 35.5 per cent of persistently absent students passing their English and Maths GCSEs in 2019.

Disadvantaged pupils are more likely to be affected by this, as persistent absence is higher among free school meal-eligible children.

Clare Curran, SCC Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning, said: “The Department for Education have made improving school attendance a major priority for all schools and local authorities, and as part of this have introduced a National Framework for the issuing of Fixed Penalty Notices when a child is absent from school.

“If the National Framework’s criteria for issuing a Fixed Penalty Notice is met, schools are entitled to request their local authority to issue one.

“Every school is expected to regularly and clearly communicate their position on leave in term time to parents and carers.”

Photo by Nick Youngson via Alpha Stock Images. No changes were made to this image. Image license available here.

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