Termtime holidays, father wins High Court case

[namechangeparents]

Quite surprised about the outcome actually but haven't read the legislation to see exactly what it says. Just hope lots of local authorities don't have to pay back fines now, because there will be even more cuts to services.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-36277940

Looks like an Education Act might be added to the Queen's Speech next week to resolve the issue rather than relying on the Court of Appeal maybe?

how was it a few hundred quid?

How is it taking the piss hellsbells? Presumably the holiday companies can sell holidays at the high prices they charge in the school holidays, otherwise they wouldn't do it. They discount heavily in term-time when demand is much lower and/or the weather not so hot.

If a company can sell all its holidays at say £2k a week they are not going to reduce them to £1k a week out of the goodness of their hearts.

Do people think it's likely that a government with a majority of 12 will try and change the law? I don't know, but it's not a fight I'd choose to pick if I didn't have to.

Why shouldn't they pay fines back, the fines should be revenue for cash strapped councils.

Holidays sell out at current prices during school holidays, which suggests that demand exceeds supply.

If you don't want to pay for a foreign holiday in the peak season, other holidays are available and a fortnight abroad isn't the only way to spend quality time as a family. The only holiday I ever had as a child was a week at May Bank Holiday in the UK because that was what my parents could afford.

I would quite like a Ferrari not really but I can't afford one and just accept this. I don't go round campaigning for Ferraris to be cheaper and accusing Ferrari of cashing in and unfairly hiking their prices.

Its good he's won, but the government are about to be ridiculous over it and will change the law.

Its absurd and so dependant on the child and their age. And of course how many holidays you take. And what type of holiday you take.

We are not beach type and we've never been on a holiday which isn't educational in one way or another. This is way I fundamentally disagree with the principle as it suggests that parents don't ALSO do educating as part of their relationship and are INCAPABLE of making a decision about how going on holiday will impact their child's education.

I think the issue comes down to whether going on holiday is in the best interests of that particular child. Or if its disruptive to other children. There are cases where it could be quite the opposite...

Its like the school lunchbox. I wish they would stop treating parents like naughty children and saved their time and effort for the cases where there is really an issue.

The problem with headteachers discretion/attendance above a certain level/marks above a certain level ls that it can discriminate against children with sen or health problems. Both of the schools my son has attended don't authorise any term time holidays but don't push for fines unless there is persistent unauthorised absence.

I don't think it's good to take kids out of school in most circumstances, especially not secondary. And 93% is a very poor attendance record for someone who doesn't have medical reasons for not attending.

But I'm glad about this ruling because I don't think my view of how kids should be raised should be pushed on all families through the legal system.

Some people can only afford holidays outside of peak time. They have a right to a week or two in the sun with their kids.

I regularly took my children out of school for holidays, it didn't stop DS1 being the top performing boy in his school (2nd overall) in his GCSEs. Both our children got all A*s & As at GCSE and A level. They both have chronic health conditions too.

DH is in the RAF, unfortunately war, exercises and aircraft maintenance doesn't stop for the school holidays so we had to take holidays when we could. We decided memories and family time were very important and we're both very glad we did it.

Hopefully if the Govt change the law then they include privately educated children this time.

Jolly good. As a teacher then, I'll arrange to take my own children out of school for 10 days mid termtime to go on holiday ....sod everyone else's kids...and my own job.

Very good news.

Becomes shit news if they change the law on the back of it though.

Would now be a good time for a petition to the government....? A change to the law's got to be unpopular, right? A serious vote-loser?

If you don't want the law to be changed, why not consider writing to your MP? Especially if you happen to live in a marginal seat, and especially doubled if it's a Tory marginal. There's no need to meekly acquiesce to the prospect of an unpopular law change from a party with a wafer thin majority who didn't include it in their manifesto.

Mrs Blimey - fine as long as your school provides cover. And you work 2 weeks of your 13 week holiday.

In my school, I have yet to hear of a parent told off for holidays during school term. However, we operate on the basis that if you take your child out for holidays, catching up is the parent's responsibility and we do not provide catch up sessions or teaching material - I'll give a parent a topic list, but no more. It seems to work out fairly in my school.

should not be.

We don't go onholiday in peak season because everywhere ( including the quieter places are too busy) and having a disabled child limits choices of places to stay. We don't want a holiday abroad- just somewhere peaceful but accessible in this country.

Peace - I take it you don't work in a school.

Don't forget that kids get 13 weeks holiday a year too....

Jolly good. As a teacher then, I'll arrange to take my own children out of school for 10 days mid termtime to go on holiday ....sod everyone else's kids...and my own job.

You could always have done this except you've signed a contract with your workplace which you would probably be breaching by doing so. But at least you wouldn't get fined for your children being out of school now (for a bit anyway).

Don't forget that kids get 13 weeks holiday a year too....

But their parent's don't always get holidays during those 13 weeks...

Well done him!!

Don't forget that kids get 13 weeks holiday a year too

Its not about the kids as such though is it. Its about a right to a family life. As in, kids and parents.

Jolly good. As a teacher then, I'll arrange to take my own children out of school for 10 days mid termtime to go on holiday ....sod everyone else's kids...and my own job.

And as soon as you stop getting paid a salary, or perhaps you keep yours but your pupils get the same wage and terms as you do, you'll have a valid point.

Sounds fair enough iona.

NickiFury it was a week trip, and in my area the fines are per parent per child, would you believe. So £40 (I think) x 5 days x 2 parents. Lucky DP and I don't have a struggle to coparent, hey?

And don't ask about when we went to Canada and I missed the 21-day deadline by a day so they fines doubled. And when we rang to pay they had no computerised way to take the payment, they couldn't tell me had we definitely missed the deadline, I just had to pay and hope not to get sued.