Derby mums brand school fines ‘ridiculous’ ahead of new term start with increased fees

Thousands of school children are gearing up to attend schools that reopen for September term in the coming days.

Parents have many things to consider, from new uniforms, to preparing for a new routine involving early morning starts and school runs.

One more thing parents face is the dilemma of taking their child out of school for a holiday, which is thought to be considerably cheaper in comparison to term time.

Government rules state parents will be fined if their child misses school ‘without a good reason.’

The fine which used to be £60 per parent, is now £80 per parent - a cost increase that came into effect from August 2024.

The fees rise to £160 if not paid within 28 days, and repeated fines within a three-year period (for the same child) could lead to prosecution. You can find more information about fines here.

Fines for taking children out during school term continues to be a hotly debated issue.

The latest celebrity to air her feelings about it is Katherine Ryan.

The 41-year-old comedian spoke about the controversial topic on Olivia Attwood’s podcast, So Wrong It’s Right.

When asked if it was ‘right’ to take your child out of school for a holiday the outspoken comedian did not hold back.

The mum-of-three said: “I think it is alway right to take your children out of institutionalised education… Because it is so much more enriching to be with your family, to see something, to go somewhere and to be part of that tribe.

“They hike up the prices of everything during school holidays.

“So if you’re in a private school, they let you take your kids out whenever they want because you’re paying.

“If they’re on a scholarship they’ll just let them go. If they go to state school, they’re keeping them there, why?

“So that they can be custodians of the government? I don’t understand, I don’t get any of that.”

Speaking about the fines issued to parents, Ryan said: “I’ll pay the fines.”

We asked Derby parents what they thought about taking children out during term time. Here are a selection of opinions they shared. Many have spoken to DerbyWorld on the condition of anonymity.

‘School fines are ridiculous’

One Derby mum said: “I have taken my kids out of school term and on holiday. I think the fines are ridiculous.

“What’s also bad is you are teaching your kids to lie, as I don’t tell the school we’re away, I just end up saying he’s unwell.”

‘I am fuming how schools can dictate family time’

One mum from Derby was left frustrated by ‘ridiculous’ school fines.

Speaking to DerbyWorld, the 41-year-old from Derbyshire said: “It is such a big thing! I am fuming that schools think they can dictate family time! Some people don’t get to pick and choose when they have time off work.

“Also schools don’t publish the inset days and term times that far in advance to plan.

“Don’t even get me started on the letter we received telling us off.”

The mum has taken her children out of term time twice, paying £60 each time.

The mum said: “Even though my son is eight-years-old, kids need a holiday and quality family time.

“Other parents also take their children out of school to go on holiday. They also get hauled into school like a child.”

When asked if there was anything that would deter her from not pulling her child out of school for a holiday, the mum said: “Prosecution which is what they are threatening now.

“The fines have changed now, they are much higher. You get two fines and the third is court within a three year rolling period.”

The dismayed Derby mum had a few words for Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.

She said: “You have bigger things to fix than kids going on holiday! If you're going to have these insane rules then get your ship in order.

“Schools haven’t even released the term dates six months in advance, let alone a year in advance, including inset days. What happened to holiday forms?

“We don’t all work in schools, we don't all get to have set times off.

“What do you do if you plan a holiday and the airline changes the flights slightly and the child needs to leave school early to make the change? It’s absolutely ridiculous that schools think it’s so black and white.

“Our wedding got postponed due to Covid then we were offered a week day or lose our deposit - so we took the weekday and school rejected our request to take our son out for two days because according to them it wasn’t an ‘exceptional circumstance.’

“It appears a global pandemic wasn’t enough of an exceptional circumstance.”

‘We could only afford to go on holiday during term time’

Another mum from Derby reflected on the costs associated with a holiday during term time.

The 39-year-old told DerbyWorld: “As a kid the only time we could go away was during term, or my mum couldn't afford it.

“But once I hit secondary school, we didn't go during term time and we got help from else where.

“I can see why parents do it, as long as their attendance is good it's not really going to affect them.”

‘Holiday costs during summer vacations are ridiculously high’

A 45-year-old teacher from Derby expressed ‘frustration’ as he felt children’s learning was impacted from their non-attendance.

He said: “From a secondary teacher point of view, it's frustrating because children miss out on learning.

“It tends to be the last week of term and they miss trips or rewards that they may have been working hard towards, for the full term.

“However, what they gain from their holiday, which I call ‘cultural capital’ is also important.

“Holiday prices during school holidays are ridiculous, so I can appreciate why some parents would do this.”

‘I took my child on holiday during primary school but wouldn’t do this at start of a new term’

A 55-year-old mum from Derby reflected on the time when she took her then-infant age child out from primary school, but would never do so at the start of term time.

She said: “I have taken my daughter out of school while she was in primary school, as I don’t think there was anything fundamental she would miss in a week.

“But I would never take her out at the beginning of September as they are settling in, so it’s disruptive.

“She only went on a holiday in school time once when in senior school and it was the last week, which wasn’t even a full week.

“She said she would rather have a holiday than go to Alton towers and other things they had planned that week.

“We did get fined but it was a lot less than the money we saved taking her that week.”

‘I battled with school for my kids to attend their grandad’s funeral’

Another Derby mum felt the school fine issue was a complicated topic to navigate, saying she faced opposition from the school when she tried to get her children to attend her dad’s funeral.

The 40-year-old told DerbyWorld: “ I don't think it's a ‘one rule fits all’ answer.

“For me, bright kids can usually afford a week out of school without too much detriment, as they can plan to catch up the work. But for others it may be different.

“However holidays can be amazing and educational on many levels for kids.

“If it was a choice of no holiday, or a week out of school, I'd take the week out and pay the fine, especially in primary school.

“Secondary schooling needs careful timing, dependent on the age of the child, but broadly, the same.

“I don’t think I’d take a child out of school during September though.

“I recall having a battle with school over my kids attending my dad's funeral for an afternoon - absolutely ridiculous!

“They only agreed as I said I'd be taking them anyway, either or without their consent.”

‘Two tier system favours the rich’

One professional from Derby believes a ‘two-tier’ system exists, that is unfairly balanced for those who can afford to pay fines.

The 54-year-old told Derby World: “I'm not a parent but I work with them.

“It's a two-tier system, the rich who can afford holidays in the school holidays can afford to pay the fine.

“Working class people who work hard are damned if they do, damned if they don’t. So it's a no win.

“I think it ultimately depends on the child's age and what the holiday is.

“Sometimes they can learn more going away with family than in school.”

‘Holiday are huge life experiences unaffordable during during school holidays’

Emma is a mum from Bristol. She said: “Although I’m not from Derby, this issue affects parents everywhere.

“I would definitely take my kids out of school for a holiday if I had the chance.

“I'm not talking about all the time, probably not even every year.

“But holidays are huge life experiences for kids and most are just unaffordable during school breaks.

“Our school just put up the fine. It is now £80 per child per parent for a week of unauthorised absence. So my two kids would equal a £320 fine.

“We could get away with a week last year.

“The 'per parent' thing still applies if the parents are separated. So if one parent takes the kids on holidays, even if the other parent doesn't approve, or doesn't even know - then both parents would still get £180 fine.”