A growing number of parents in the United Kingdom are choosing to take their children on holiday during school term time, willing to incur fines of up to £160 per child to secure substantial savings on travel costs. Research indicates that a significant portion of parents are prepared to pay these penalties, viewing the financial benefits as outweighing the penalties.
Travel prices for flights and accommodation typically surge during official school holiday periods, such as the summer break and half-term weeks. This price inflation prompts many families to seek alternatives. For instance, a family of four looking at a week in Mallorca during the summer holidays might face costs of approximately £3,500, while the same trip in September could cost around £1,900, representing a saving of nearly half. Similar price disparities have been noted for destinations like the Canary Islands and Greece.
According to figures from the Department for Education, fines issued for unauthorised school absences, primarily for term-time holidays, reached a record high of 459,288 in the past year, a 4% increase compared to the previous year. These fines constitute 93% of all penalties for unauthorised school absence.
Parents who opt for term-time travel often justify their decision by the significant financial relief it provides. One parent, Thea Rule, a nurse from Cornwall, was fined £160 for taking her five-year-old son out of school for five days for a holiday in Mallorca. She stated that the trip would have cost £1,440 more if taken during school holidays, resulting in a net saving of £1,280 even after the fine. Rule believes that missing a week of reception class would not significantly impact her son's education, highlighting the cultural and social learning experiences gained during the trip.
Jenna Carr, a family travel expert and founder of The Travel Mum, acknowledged that while education is paramount, the financial advantages of term-time travel can be considerable, making holidays accessible for families who might otherwise not afford them. She noted that travelling during term time can also offer a less crowded experience. Carr advises parents to carefully consider their individual circumstances, weigh the financial benefits against school attendance policies, and understand the potential fines before making a decision. She also suggests strategies for reducing costs when travelling during school holidays, such as booking early, being flexible with dates and airports, and travelling just before or after peak weeks. Choosing dates that straddle the beginning or end of a school holiday can also offer a compromise, resulting in a few missed school days but still allowing for reduced prices. Some parents also report resorting to reporting their children as sick to avoid fines when taking unapproved term-time breaks. This practice is sometimes seen as a workaround by parents determined to holiday during off-peak periods. Germany employs a different approach, staggering school holidays by region, which helps to mitigate the widespread price inflation seen in countries with unified holiday schedules. Despite the increasing number of fines, the trend suggests that for many UK families, the allure of substantial savings on holidays continues to outweigh the risk of penalties.