termtime

A record number of school holiday fines were handed out across England last year, and there’s one region that saw the most children take unauthorised time off as parents are hit with penalties

The English town with the highest number of pupils heading on holidays during term time has been revealed, as holiday penalties hit an all-time high.

Across England last year, a record-breaking 459,288 school holiday fines were handed out, the Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed. The number of penalties shot up by four per cent in 2024-2025 and accounted for 93 per cent of all fines issued for unauthorised school absence.

These mark the first statistics published since school holiday fines increased in 2024, jumping from £60 to £80 per parent, per child, per holiday. While parents risk a substantial penalty, they can save thousands of pounds by booking their family getaway during term time, swerving peak-season prices.

READ MORE: ‘They said my daughter had growing pains but she’ll lose ability to walk’READ MORE: School rules that mean parents can be fined up to £2,500

Yet, if the school fine is not paid within 21 days, it can be raised to £160, and if parents receive a second penalty for the same child within three years, it will instantly cost £160, according to Gov.uk rules. And there’s one region willing to take this risk most of all.

The area with the highest recorded number of fine notices per pupil in 2024/25 was Barnsley, making it the holiday fines capital of England. The local authority issued 5,275 fines to parents over the year for unauthorised family holidays, meaning 1,672 for every 10,000 pupils.

Following news of a spike in penalty notices across England, parents have shared their views. Among them is Jodie Salt, from Cheshire, who has insisted that her three daughters learn ‘far more through travel and real life’ than in a classroom.

Jodie exclusively told the Mirror: “I’ve always taken my kids out of school, and I’ve been fined for it, and I’m fine with that (and will continue to do it in the future). School curricula are so outdated. They’re still focused on memorising information and passing exams, instead of developing real-world skills, confidence and behaviour. My kids learn far more through travel and real life than they do sitting at a desk in a classroom!

“They develop their social interaction, learn resilience when things don’t go according to plan, they learn about money and currency, they broaden their horizons about what’s possible for their own futures and careers, they clearly develop more language capability and learn about different cultures first hand too – all priceless!”

Another mum, who wishes to stay anonymous, took her children out of school for a wedding anniversary and admitted: “The fine was a struggle to pay, but it cost less than going on summer holidays.”

She shared: “We took five of our children to Lanzarote for two weeks. The second week was half-term, so I was fined for the first week for four children. The holiday was very educational for the children. We visited a volcanic crater and ate dinner at the top of a volcano. The children learned about the eruptions on the island. They rode camels, visited an animal park. It was our 10th wedding anniversary.

“Ten years previously, we took our eldest three on the same holiday for our honeymoon, and we did the same activities. I would definitely do it again, especially for a special occasion. We saved so much money. Originally, I was going to book for a week in half-term, but when we extended it to two weeks, flying out the week before half-term, the price didn’t increase much.”

For teachers, it can be disruptive when children are taken out of school during term time. However, one teacher, who is also a mum to three children, said: “I’m completely against blanket school fines, and I think wholeheartedly it’s the wrong approach.”

The parent, who also wishes to stay anonymous, continued: “As a teacher and a mother, I think holidays are important. If your child has generally good attendance, I think families should be given the right to take their children out. Home-schooled children have this ability (when they can afford it), but state children do not? Holidays are great learning experiences and bonding time. I don’t mind when my students go on holiday; I love seeing them excited, and I ask them questions when they come back.

“I do not make those children worry about their ‘attendance’ either, and ruin their experience. The only time I am concerned about parents taking their children out is when those parents do not parent. They do not care about their child’s education, whether that is poor attendance and lateness, no homework/or they never show up to a parents’ evening. This reflects in their grades and general attitude towards school.”

She added, “What really needs to be targeted is the holiday resorts that jack their prices up.”

However, many parents disagree with taking children out during term-time, arguing that it is disruptive for a child’s education.

One shared on Facebook: “I’m firmly in ‘camp no’ to taking out during term time. However, I still disagree with the fines or further punishment due to the high amount of Sen parents who get punished!”

Another commented on X: “I don’t agree with taking kids out of school for a holiday – if holiday companies were regulated, there’d be no need.” One more agreed to the fees and wrote on X: “Yes, and enforce them properly. These parents who take their children out of school are likely the same ones who moan that the teachers aren’t doing their jobs properly because their kids are not getting the grades.”

Cllr Ashley Peace, Cabinet Support Member for Children’s Services in Barnsley, told the Mirror: “Improving attendance is a priority for us, and we will continue to work with schools and parents to share the importance of preventing term-time absences.

“We ask parents to consider the impact of taking children out of school for holidays. While we acknowledge that families want to keep holiday costs down, there is research which demonstrates that term-time holidays can create gaps in learning that are difficult to bridge.

“It can feel hard to catch up and for some children it can be challenging to settle back into school when attendance is inconsistent or disrupted. We continue to follow government guidance when issuing any school absence fines, and the money raised through these penalties is used to cover the costs of running the system.”

A Department for Education spokesperson also shared with the Mirror: “Every child deserves the best start in life, and that begins with being in school. Term-time holidays place the burden on teachers to support missed learning and affect the entire class.

“We are playing our part to support those children who face barriers to attending school, and this is making a difference – with 5 million more days in school last academic year and 140,000 fewer pupils persistently absent. Alongside this, fines continue to have a vital place in our system, so everyone is held accountable for ensuring children are in school.”

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