Surge in fines for term-time absences in Hounslow school

By Alisha Azeem

New figures for the last school year found a concerning rise in fines given to parents for taking their children out of school during term time. Data for Hounslow shows that in 2022 and 2023, 85 primary pupils and 29 secondary pupils received fines in the borough. The current number has significantly increased and is now at 133 primary students and 48 secondary students. This is just after the government’s decision to increase the fine for school absences in August 2024.

The old penalty rate £60 to £120 is now £80 to £160, it is the first change since 2012. It was put in place to be in line with inflation, but stricter rules have been introduced since, making sure that no one is exempt from paying the fine. This has become an area of concern for families who are financially struggling, especially in today’s economy among the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Local authorities argue that unauthorised absences during term time interferes with a child’s education, which is why the governments new rules also state that a penalty notice is now given if a child has been absent for over five school days in a 10 week period.

One Father of two, had to pay an £80 fine for each of his children when their holidays at the end of summer had to be extended due to his wife being hospitalised abroad. When he called the school to let them know that the trip had to be extended due to an emergency. He said: “I expected them asking for proof so I asked the doctors to send me all the details of my wife’s condition to email them forward.”

Despite doing so he was still faced with a fine since his kids missed eight days of school, the council told him that he was not exempt and had to pay within 21 days. He said: “I was already quite tight on money from rebooking plane tickets, paying hospital bills and international call credits, I really didn’t need to be fined for something completely out of my control.” He adds that: “The entire cost of this trip has put me off of taking the kids on holiday ever again.”

The only time a fine may be excused is if there is evidence that the child is sick, and school officials have investigated and excused this themselves. Fifteen-year-old Roha suffers from asthma, and last spring “she was having severe asthma attacks to the point where she was throwing up,” says her mother Farah. This was when she decided to keep her at home until she had recovered.

In usual circumstances after the school was informed of her absence they would amend the register accordingly, but new rules from Lampton school state that home visits can take place at any time. Roha says: “On the fifth day I didn’t go in, our schools attendance officer showed up at our house unannounced, like she had to make sure we weren’t lying.” In the visit the officer took a photo of all of Roha’s medication for proof, and requested Farah obtain a note from the GP confirming Roha’s condition. Farah says: “I don’t understand why they had to go this far, this could all have been solved in a simple email.”