Birmingham schools have issued 9,697 fines to parents for taking children on term-time holidays this year, according to data obtained by BirminghamLive. The figures, which cover the period since the start of the year, include 2,590 fines processed in July alone, although this does not necessarily reflect when the holidays occurred.
This comes as a fresh crackdown begins from the start of the new school year, with rule-breaking parents more likely to face penalties. The Government has handed individual attendance targets to every mainstream state school in England from September, which may make headteachers less willing to authorise term-time absences.
Why term-time holidays remain popular
Term-time holidays are often significantly cheaper than peak-season trips, making them an attractive option for families with limited budgets. Tom Vaughan, from Confused.com, said: "For some families, taking some extra holiday days during term-time can seem appealing, with rates often being cheaper outside peak school holiday periods."
Research from Confused.com found that parents or guardians say they save £567 on average when taking trips during term time. However, this saving can be offset by fines, which have been hiked to £80 in recent years. Vaughan added: "But it doesn't come without financial consequences, with UK parents issued £41 million in fines for term-time holidays between 2022 and 2024."
Parents' views on the fines
The issue remains contentious. In a BirminghamLive poll, 68% of respondents said they did not believe it was fair to fine parents for taking children on term-time holidays. Another 29% said they thought it was fair, while 3% were unsure. This suggests the majority of parents disagree with the stance of the Government and schools.
Term-time holidays tend to be more affordable, making them a more attractive option for families who often have little money to spend. Yet parents face the wrath of headteachers and councils for taking their children out of class.
Impact of new attendance targets
Schools are likely to take the issue more seriously this year after being given individual attendance targets by the Government. This may make it less likely that headteachers will let parents off. Vaughan noted: "While previously different schools have enforced fines in different ways, from September, every mainstream state school in England will be given its own target to improve pupil attendance as part of a wider government crackdown on absence."
For parents, that likely means absences are tracked more closely, so a term-time trip is more likely to land on a school's radar. The fines are designed to tackle term-time absences and make parents think twice, but the financial burden on families remains a key concern.
