'I'm a headteacher - I've taken my kids on term-time holidays and so should you'
A headteacher has admitted taking his kids away on holiday during term-time and has called fines levied the parents of absent kids 'ridiculous'.
The dad-of-three, who has been a headteacher for more than a decade, expressed sympathy for families wanting to get away outside of the school holidays when prices are generally much lower, particularly during the cost of living crisis.
He admitted taking his kids away during term time and said he told their school ahead of time, only to avoid a fine at the end of the trip.
The headteacher, who was speaking anonymously, said he didn't pass the details of families caught taking their kids away during term-time on to the local authorities.
"In the current economic crisis, a family holiday is essential for togetherness. Splashing about in the sea, building sandcastles – that sort of thing is really important," he told the i news paper.
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Councils have powers to fine families for taking their kids out of schools during term-time (Getty Images/iStockphoto)"I’ve done it with my kids, taken them to Greece outside the school holidays, because they have different term dates for their half terms and it was impossible to find a time that worked for them both."
He added: "The fine situation is ridiculous – you get fined £60 per pupil, but save thousands of pounds by going outside holidays."
The head teacher suggested that missing a few days a year was no problem for "brilliant attenders", although it was a different case for those who miss school regularly.
He argued that fines had "absolutely no impact" on the number of unauthorised holidays and that they should be scrapped.
In the UK parents who take their child out of school for holidays face paying a fine of £60 and, in some cases, prosecution.
Because breaks during term time are on average 28% cheaper than going away within the summer holidays, it is often cheaper to take the fine.
Department for Education data show that more than five million school days were lost in 2022 because of term-time holidays.
Matthew Beale was fined £120 (BPM MEDIA)Last year a single dad was left fuming after being fined £120 for his kids going on holiday during term time - even though he didn't know they'd gone.
Matthew Beale was slapped with the fine after his two children were taken out of their primary school during term time, Birmingham Live reports.
The dad-of-two, whose kids live with their mum, hit out at the rules after receiving a £60 fine for each child for a six-week holiday to Australia they went on with his ex-partner.
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Because his name is on the birth certificate, he says appeals to both Radleys Primary School and Walsall Council to rescind the fine have led nowhere.
Matthew, a logistics manager, says he is struggling with the cost of living crisis and will have to borrow money from friends or family.
He says he will be 'out of pocket' for three months as he pays back the debt in instalments.
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