The number of parents in Medway fined for taking their children out of school during term time has increased by more than a third.

Head teachers once had the power to authorise up to 10 days for a holiday, but this was removed by the Department for Education last September.

But parents are still willing to be fined to take their children away during term time as it is still cheaper than the cost of going on holiday during school breaks.

Susan Acton described it as a no brainer. She said: “The fine plus the cost of a holiday in term time is cheaper than paying full whack in school holidays.

“I’d quite readily take my children out of school during term time providing they are doing well at school, don’t have too much time off for sickness and also don’t have any important examinations coming up.”

In the last academic year, Medway Council have issued 757 Penalty Notices (PNs) for unauthorised absences or unauthorised leave, 186 more than the previous school year when 571 fines were issued.

Fines were increased at the start of September 2013 to £60, if paid within 21 days, or £120 if paid between 22 and 28 days. In the previous academic year this was £50 and £100 respectively.

In 2013/2014, 573 parents paid £60 and 40 parents paid £120 adding up to nearly £40,000 paid in fines, an increase of more than £10,000 from the year before.
In the last year, 36 cases were taken to court for unpaid PNs, some of which relate to unpaid fines issued the year before.

Four parents have been prosecuted for not sending their child to school regularly.
Heidi Ayling, 43, of Wyles Street, Gillingham and Natalie Barritt, 40, of Maritime Court, Dock Road, Chatham, appeared in court in July. Both women were fined £400 and ordered to pay £100 court costs. A further 74 people are going through the court process for failing to send a child to school regularly.

A council spokesman said: “Medway Council issue penalty notices on behalf of schools and academies who use these as sanctions for unauthorised leave in term time or for unauthorised absence.

Under the legislation, parents can still apply for ‘exceptional’ leave.
Of the remaining PNs that were issued for the last academic year, 11 are being looked into as parents have raised potential ‘exceptional circumstances’ for the unauthorised leave and these are being investigated by the schools/academies.

A further 55 PNs have been withdrawn after it was confirmed the parent did not live with the child concerned or medical evidence was provided for the period of absence.