Official figures show the number of students missing school for family holidays has risen despite a drive to curb the habit. Figures show 7.6% of students missed half a day during the autumn and spring terms due to family holidays in the 2105-16 academic year. The number had risen from 7.2% from the previous academic year.
The Department for Education figures shows in 2015-16 a total of 400,490 students had taken unauthorised family holidays, compared to 362,425 in the previous year. 62% were absent due to illness while 6.5% had medical appointments and 1.5% had maintained religious observance.
The government has attempted to crack down on term-time holidays, issuing £60 fines to parents taking out children without prior approval. The initial fines increase to £120 if it paid within 21days. In the last academic year, 90,000 parents across England and Wales were fined a total of £5.6million for unauthorised absence. Currently, it is only the head teacher who can grant leave in “exceptional circumstances”.
