More parents in England prosecuted for taking children out of school

Increasing numbers of parents are being taken to court because their children have skipped school, with thousands facing action last year.

Figures obtained by the Press Association show that 16,430 parents in England were prosecuted for failing to ensure their children went to school in 2014 – equivalent to around 86 cases for each day of the school year.

This is up a quarter on 2013, when 13,128 people were taken to court.

The increase comes after a crackdown on children missing school, including strict new rules on term-time holidays introduced two years ago.

Headteachers said that while it may not always be easy for parents to ensure their children attend school, it was their responsibility and that they should talk to the children’s school if there were problems.

Ministry of Justice statistics gathered by the Press Association through a freedom of information request show that of those taken to court last year, around three quarters (76%) – 12,479 – were found guilty, a 22% jump on the year before.

The number of fines handed out by the courts rose by 30% between 2013 and 2014. Last year 9,214 parents were issued with fines, 74% of those who were found guilty. On average, they were ordered to pay £172.

The figures also show that 18 parents were given custodial sentences in 2014, up from seven the year before.

A breakdown of the statistics, which refer to two truancy-related offences under the Education Act 1996, reveal that women are much more likely to be found guilty than men, making up three-fifths of those convicted.

While women make up more than half (58%) of those fined for a child missing school, there has been a big jump in the number of men served with financial penalties – up 41%.

Rachel Burrows from Netmums said: “Long-term truancy is a complicated issue and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. In many cases, the family may be in crisis or face issues such as a parent with mental health problems or addictions. In these cases, fines or jail won’t help, as the mum or dad needs professional support to turn their lives around and be a better parent.

“But in other cases, a fine or the threat of jail may be enough to make parents understand how serious the situation is. Education is vital to a child’s success and attendance isn’t optional. By setting a good example and insisting children get to school on time, parents are teaching their child basic manners and timekeeping skills and setting them up for a successful future.”

Malcolm Trobe, deputy general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: “Good attendance is absolutely critical to the education and future prospects of young people. Research has repeatedly and clearly shown that young people whose attendance is good are far more likely to achieve five or more good GCSEs.

“Schools have rightly responded to this overwhelming evidence by taking a strong line in identifying when children are absent without a valid reason, particularly where there is persistent truancy. They work closely with education welfare officers, and where they cannot obtain a response from parents are now more likely to move to court action at an early stage.

“It may not always be easy for parents to ensure their children go to school, particularly in the case of older children, but it remains a parental responsibility, and if they are having problems they need to talk to their school to work out a solution.”

He suggested that the increase in fines could be down to the new rules on parents taking children out of school for term-time holidays.

“If they do so without the school’s authorisation they are issued with a fixed penalty, but where the penalty is not paid it may result in court action,” he said.

Parents who take children out of school without permission can face a £60 fine per child, rising to £120 if it is not paid within 21 days. Those who fail to pay may be prosecuted, with a maximum fine of 2,500 or a jail sentence of up to three months.

A DfE spokesperson said: “It is a myth that missing school even for a short time is harmless to a child’s education. Our evidence shows missing the equivalent of just one week a year from school can mean a child is a quarter less likely to achieve good GCSE grades, having a lasting effect on their life chances.”

“Heads and teachers are now firmly back in charge of their classrooms, and most recent figures show we have made real progress - with 200,000 fewer pupils regularly missing school compared with five years ago.”