What can I do?

[Gertie7]

To cut a very long story short, we requested 5 days absence from school. The headteacher told us that she wouldn't be able to authorise the absence but if we went ahead and took the 5 days off, we would not get a fine. We have now returned to school and have received a fine. It appears that our local authority issues fines for absences of 5 days and over, whereas the head told us fines were issued for anything over 5 days. She is now saying that as the fine has been issued there is nothing she can do. So we are lumbered with a £200 fine as a result of her mistake.
Other than make a formal complaint, which we would rather not do, is there anything I can do?

Can't help but please do name the LA ?
Utter crap. We can't take holidays due to our employment contracts during school hols. Dd in reception and I feel this is so unjust this new system of fining.
Surely we have a right to a family holiday???

Would you have cancelled your holiday if you'd known about the fine? Who would you be making a formal complaint to exactly? You should have checked with the LEA (or whoever it is sends the fines) rather than the head