Parents hit by truancy fines
Soaring numbers of parents across the Black Country have been fined for letting their children skip school during term time, figures reveal today.
Soaring numbers of parents across the Black Country have been fined for letting their children skip school during term time, figures reveal today.
Families jetting off to sunnier climes for cheaper holidays and pupils missing school in the run-up to exams are among the reasons fixed penalty notices of up to £50 have been issued.
Walsall has seen the biggest increase in fines for unauthorised absences following a new crackdown – almost double last year's total.
While 64 fines were issued to parents during term time in 2007-08, a blitz has seen that number soar to 111 so far this academic year.
Education bosses have even negotiated discounted holidays with travel agents for families who take children away during school breaks to crackdown on absence figures, once among the highest in the country.
Clare Lunn, spokeswoman for Serco, the firm in charge of education in Walsall, said: "Some parents wrongly believe that holiday absence is an entitlement, similar to an annual leave allocation for working adults, but in reality, children have a right to education every day that their school is open."
School chiefs said each case of absence was determined on its merits, but said it was up to the schools, and not parents, to decide when their child should be in class.
In Sandwell, 149 fixed penalty fines were issued for unauthorised absences in 2007-08, with 112 issued so far this academic year.
In 2008-09, Wolverhampton education chiefs issued 73 instant £50 fines, which can double to £100 if not paid within 28 days.
In Dudley, 23 fines have been paid this year by parents whose children have skipped school, while last year, 22 fines were paid. Meanwhile, in Kidderminster, parents have been charged if their children miss school before exams.
