UK: Mum’s fury as one son’s school allows term-time hols – but she gets a fine from the other
By The Sentinel
MUM Michelle Parrish has hit out at controversial term-time holiday rules – after being fined £120 for taking one of her sons out of lessons while her other child escaped punishment for going on the same trip.
Brothers Cameron and Miles Parrish missed lessons to go on the two-week ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ Caribbean cruise with their extended family during October.
The absence of Michelle’s eldest child Cameron, aged 14, was approved without financial penalty by Wolstanton High School.
But 10-year-old Miles’s term-time holiday incurred the wrath of the headteacher at Wolstanton’s St Margaret’s Junior School.
Now parents Michelle and Robert have been fined £60 each – with the total fine doubled to £240 if the payment is not made by the end of today.
Michelle, of Basford, left, said: “I’m seething. I don’t understand how one school can approve a request and another from the same area can refuse it.”
Michelle, of Basford, said: “I’ve never done anything like this before and both my kids have brilliant attendance. But why in the same borough can two different schools give different answers? It makes no sense.
“I applied months in advance, explaining that our entire family was invited on their once-in-a-lifetime holiday which could not be taken during school holidays.
“I told both schools exactly the same thing and sent them proof that my husband couldn’t go on holiday unless it was in term time. When you can prove exceptional circumstances, parents shouldn’t be fined.”
The family joined their relatives for the cruise in October. But within weeks of coming back St Margaret’s informed Michelle and Robert they would each be fined £60 for the infringement.
The couple’s appeal was rejected and their fine will double to £240 if the payment is not made by the end of today.
Michelle added: “Both of my children have since caught up on all their schoolwork.”
Staffordshire County Council this year tightened its rules on term-time absences.
It came after just 108 fines were issued in the county in the 2013/14 academic year for unauthorised absences.
But dad Robert believes there should be leniency for those parents who are restricted on when they can take holidays.
The 46-year-old, who works as a sales executive, said: “So many special family occasions were rolled into that holiday, including two birthdays, so it wasn’t something we could put off and do another time.
“I can’t understand how one school can give their blessing while another is having none of it. It tainted our good memories of the holiday.”
The two headteachers at the centre of the row today defended their decisions.
St Margaret’s head David Hugill said: “We follow Government guidelines which set out that holidays in term time have a detrimental effect on pupil progress and should therefore only be authorised in exceptional circumstances.
“We carefully consider the individual circumstances before coming to a decision. Each school considers leave requests for their pupils, according to its respective policy.
“We cannot comment on Wolstanton High’s decision to approve it on this occasion.”
Retiring Wolstanton High headteacher Alan Aston said: “There are Government guidelines we follow but ultimately it is to the discretion of the school to decide within the circumstances.”
The county council refused to comment.
IMAGE: ONCE IN A LIFETIME: Michelle Parrish and 10-year-old son Miles on their Caribbean cruise.
