HOWZAT

Head teachers can agree to a pupil taking 10 days away from class in a year, but the government has urged them to give permission only in exceptional circumstances, such as when a parent’s work leaves no alternative. Since June last year, schools have been able to fine parents if their children play truant. Parents face fines of £50 for each child who misses classes, rising to £100 if the fine is not paid within 28 days.

However, 70,000 pupils a day still skip school and absentee rates are as high as they were a decade ago, according to a report published earlier this month by the charity New Philanthropy Capital.

That is despite the government spending more than £1 billion in the past 10 years to try to get the figures down to acceptable levels.

The report followed a damning study by the National Audit Office. Its findings forced Kelly to try to get tough by ordering a crackdown on parents, calling on them to “face up to their responsibilities” and stop their children from skipping school.

Among the measures she announced were fines of up to £2,500 or even three months in jail unless the children stop truanting.

“Taking a holiday during term time can mean children miss important school time and course work,” said an education department spokesman. “A term-time holiday is often seen as the rule — it should be the exception.”

John Dunford, general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, said: “It has become increasingly common for parents to take their children out of school for a holiday, mainly because it is so much cheaper.

“And it is not just parents who cannot afford expensive holidays. It happens across the board. These parents are putting their holidays before their children’s education.”

An Abta spokesman said: “Supply and demand can lead to price differences in periods of peak demand. Booking early for the school holidays means families can keep costs down and everyone can take a break without missing school.”

A study last week from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that the performance of British schools is already slipping.

It warned that the social divide between people with five good GCSEs and those without has widened. Since the 1960s, the UK has fallen from 13th place of the 30 OECD countries taking part in the study to 22nd for the proportion of pupils achieving GCSE-level qualifications.

Additional reporting: Andrew White

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