A mother has been fined after taking her 12-year-old son out of school for a 10-day holiday in Egypt that she described as "educational," the mother said.
Michelle Partington, 46, and her husband, Andrew, took their son, Oliver, out of class on June 1 for what the family called a once-in-a-lifetime trip. The parents say the £3,000 holiday included snorkelling, quad biking and visits to historic sites, and was intended in part to cheer the boy after he changed schools in April following incidents of bullying.
Partington said she informed the school of the planned absence and argued the trip should be considered educational because of Egypt’s long history and cultural sites, but the school declined to authorise the leave. When the absence was recorded as unauthorised, the family received a penalty notice that Partington called "despicable." She said the couple could not afford to travel during the official school holidays after prices rose by about £2,000, and that taking the trip during term time allowed the family to spend time together.
"The holiday was worth it despite the fine. It was a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and it was magical," Partington said. She added that, were they to travel during the official break, they would likely have had to choose a lower-cost option such as a domestic holiday camp. The family said they work hard and do not often have extended time together.
The school declined to authorise the absence, citing its attendance policies, and recorded the period as unauthorised. Under United Kingdom school attendance regulations, headteachers may grant leave of absence only in exceptional circumstances; unauthorised absences can lead to penalty notices or other sanctions enforced by local authorities. The parents said they had made their case to the school in advance, emphasising the trip’s educational elements, but the request was refused.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions between parents seeking flexibility for family circumstances and schools enforcing attendance rules designed to limit pupil absence during term time. Attendance policies aim to reduce lost classroom time and ensure regular participation in scheduled lessons. Parents who believe a school has acted improperly may appeal the decision through the school's formal complaints process or seek guidance from the local authority on attendance and penalty notices.
Partington said the aim of the holiday was to support her son after his move to a new school, and she described the experience of visiting archaeological and cultural sites as educational. The family disputed the fairness of the penalty but said they stood by their decision to take the trip.
The school and local authority have not released additional details about the penalty notice or any next steps. The family has indicated they do not regret the trip despite the fine and characterized it as a rare opportunity for family time and a learning experience for their son.