A notable trend is emerging among parents who are increasingly choosing to take their children on holiday during school term time, citing substantial cost savings that often outweigh potential fines. Research indicates that nearly a quarter of parents are willing to pay penalties, which can amount to £160 per child, to secure cheaper travel deals.
The financial incentive is significant, with holiday prices escalating dramatically during peak school vacation periods such as the summer and half-term breaks. Family travel expert Jenna Carr noted that a week-long family trip to Mallorca during the summer holidays could cost around £3,500, while the exact same trip just three weeks later in September dropped to approximately £1,900, representing a saving of nearly half. Similar price discrepancies have been observed for destinations like the Canary Islands and Greece.
"For many families, those savings can make the difference between being able to afford a holiday or not," Carr stated. She added that while education is paramount, the educational benefits of travel, such as experiencing new cultures and environments, are invaluable.
Official figures show a rise in fines issued for unauthorized school absences. Last year, a record high of 459,288 fines were issued for term-time holidays, accounting for 93% of all penalties for unauthorized absence. The Department for Education reported a 4% increase in these fines in 2024-25 compared to the previous year.
One parent, Thea Rule, a nurse from Cornwall, received a £160 fine for taking her five-year-old reception-aged son, Roman, out of school for five days for a trip to Mallorca. Rule stated that the same holiday would have cost £1,440 more during school holidays, resulting in a net saving of £1,280 even after the fine. She believes that for younger children, particularly in reception, missing a few days of school does not significantly impact their education, emphasizing the cultural and social learning experiences gained during travel.
"I believe that my child should be able to enjoy family time with us," Rule said. "He experienced culture, social interactions and learned other bits along the way." She added that Roman is performing well in school and is on track to meet his learning outcomes.
Carr suggests that for parents considering term-time travel, it should be a well-informed family decision. She advises weighing the financial benefits against school attendance policies and potentially opting for travel dates that straddle the beginning or end of a school holiday to minimize absence while still benefiting from lower prices. She also notes that certain school holiday periods, like the summer and Christmas breaks, are typically more expensive than others, such as Easter or May half-term.
While some parents openly admit to taking their children out of school and accepting the fines, others report using sick days to avoid penalties. Carr acknowledged that every family's situation differs and encourages parents to carefully consider their school's attendance policy before making travel plans.