Term-Time Holidays Account for 27% of Absences

If you decide to take your child out of school during term-time, you’re likely to be faced with a £60 fine. Yet, statistics show that almost a quarter of unauthorised absences from schools in England are down to term-time holidays.

As the price of holidays rockets over the summer period, many parents prefer to take their children out of school during term-time to save some money.

However, according to the Department for Education, unauthorised absences can damage a child’s life chances.

Russell Hobby, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, commented on the issue:

“It is important that children miss as little time at school as possible.

“The cumulative effect of missed days can be harmful to children’s education. The best way to ensure children are learning and progressing is for them to attend school during term time.

“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.”

Across England, term-time holidays accounted for an average of 27% of all missed “sessions” of school last year, with two sessions per school day.

Pupils in the North East and Yorkshire missed the most sessions to holidays, with absences equivalent to 1.5 sessions per student.

So, it seems that a new strategy may be necessary, in order to combat the issue, and provide a solution that benefits both parents and the Department for Education.

What’s your opinion? Should parents have the right to choose when to take their children out of school?