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Data from the UK government reveals that more pupils were off school without permission in the last week of the summer term than at any other point during the academic year. Approximately 450,000 pupils, amounting to 5% of pupils in England, were off without permission in the week ending 19 July. This comes as the government introduces stricter rules to deter parents from taking their children out of school for a term-time holiday. Fines have increased from £60 to £80 per child and will double if subsequent infractions occur within three years. Parents with a third fine in a three-year period may now face prosecution.
Despite the new regulations, some parents remain willing to take the risk. Megan and Michael Hall, for instance, are committed to taking their children on a two-week school holiday later this month. The couple, who own a pub and bed and breakfast in Northumberland, argue that holidaying during term-time will not only save them money but will also enable them to spend quality family time together. The cost of fines is less of a concern to them than the adverse impact unaffordable holidaying during the summer term would have on their business.
Long haul flights can double over the summer, making term-time holidays substantially cheaper. Flight Centre, the fifth largest travel agency in the world, cites examples of significant price differences for places such as Thailand, New York, and Orlando. According to Colman Coyne, managing director of travel agency Jetset in Huddersfield, an increasing number of families with school age children are looking to travel outside of the Easter, half term, and summer holidays. “We see now it’s quite a regular thing,” he says. “And you can see they’re weighing up whether it’s worth risking a fine.”
The Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has reiterated parents’ legal responsibility to ensure that their child attends school. However, some parents perceive the regulations as victimising them and infringing on their right to decide the best time for their family to enjoy a holiday
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