A mother was fined £160 for taking her son out of school for a family vacation, but she believes it was worth it as they saved £1,280 on the trip. Thea Rule made the decision to travel to Majorca with her five-year-old son, Roman, after the school denied her request for authorized absence.
“I don’t care what anyone says, he’s in reception class and we’re going on that plane,” Thea stated. “I think my child should be able to enjoy family time with us. I asked for permission through a handwritten letter, but it was denied. Since he’s in reception class, we didn’t think it would affect his learning.”
Thea explained that the same holiday during school breaks would have cost £1,440 more due to higher travel expenses. Despite receiving a £160 fine from the school, the family saved £1,280 overall by traveling during the school term.
The mother emphasized that they would not have taken Roman out of school during important exam periods like SATS or GCSEs. She highlighted the cultural experiences and social interactions Roman gained during the trip, emphasizing that he is excelling in school.
The main reason for the decision, according to Thea, was the significant price difference between term-time and holiday travel. She mentioned that many parents supported her stance after she shared her story online.
Thea encouraged other parents to plan holidays strategically to save money, asserting that the family bonding and memories created during the trip were more valuable than worrying about fines.
While Thea’s family benefitted from cost savings, there is a lesser-known rule regarding term-time fines that families should be aware of – fines are applied per parent per child, not per family. Fines must be paid promptly, with the initial fine in England being £80 per person within 21 days, increasing to £160 after 28 days.
Despite the potential fines, some parents, like Thea, continue to opt for term-time travel due to the steep price hikes during school holidays, which can sometimes triple, especially for UK holiday parks.
