Term-time holiday fines hit record high

UNION chiefs say the Government must tell travel companies to limit inflated prices during school holidays - as parent absence fines hit a record high.

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Holidaymakers in Majorca

The number of penalty notices for unauthorised family holidays issued in 2024/25 increased to 459,288, Department for Education (DfE) figures released yesterday show, up 3.6% on 443,322 the year before.

Headteachers’ unions said the current approach of fining parents is clearly not acting as enough of a deterrent to families taking holidays during the school term.

"We cannot continue like this, with parents choosing between an affordable holiday and good school attendance for their child," said Pepe Di'lasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders.