Yorkshire Parents Face Record Fines for Taking Kids Out of School
Yorkshire parents received a record number of fines for taking kids out of school, with 79,904 penalty notices issued last year.
Education
Yorkshire, Fines, School Absences, Education, Holidays
Yorkshire: Parents are facing hefty fines for taking their kids out of school. Last year, a record 79,904 fines were issued in the region.
This number is up from 64,137 fines the previous year. That’s a 25% increase! Most fines, about 94%, were for unauthorized holidays.
Since last September, fines have increased to £80 for term-time absences. If parents get a second fine for the same child within three years, it doubles to £160.
In Yorkshire and the Humber, 59,120 fines were paid, while 5,028 were withdrawn before prosecution. However, 4,856 cases went to court for non-payment.
Here’s a quick look at fines in different areas of Yorkshire:
Kirklees
- 2023/2024 fines: 5,769
- 2022/2023 fines: 5,572
- Unauthorized holidays: 5,764
- Paid fines: 5,016
- Withdrawn fines: 123
- Prosecuted fines: 247
Calderdale
- 2023/2024 fines: 3,311
- 2022/2023 fines: 2,406
- Unauthorized holidays: 3,173
- Paid fines: 2,542
- Withdrawn fines: 267
- Prosecuted fines: 246
Leeds
- 2023/2024 fines: 11,065
- 2022/2023 fines: 7,046
- Unauthorized holidays: 10,782
- Paid fines: 7,310
- Withdrawn fines: 343
- Prosecuted fines: 26
Bradford
- 2023/2024 fines: 12,366
- 2022/2023 fines: 12,519
- Unauthorized holidays: 10,513
- Paid fines: 9,693
- Withdrawn fines: 745
- Prosecuted fines: 1,026
Sheffield
- 2023/2024 fines: 5,753
- 2022/2023 fines: 4,579
- Unauthorized holidays: 5,610
- Paid fines: 4,744
- Withdrawn fines: 331
- Prosecuted fines: 678
Doncaster
- 2023/2024 fines: 7,482
- 2022/2023 fines: 6,779
- Unauthorized holidays: 6,798
- Paid fines: 4,705
- Withdrawn fines: 202
- Prosecuted fines: 204
Barnsley
- 2023/2024 fines: 6,151
- 2022/2023 fines: 3,137
- Unauthorized holidays: 5,769
- Paid fines: 4,722
- Withdrawn fines: 677
- Prosecuted fines: 272
Rotherham
- 2023/2024 fines: 4,052
- 2022/2023 fines: 2,680
- Unauthorized holidays: 3,813
- Paid fines: 2,940
- Withdrawn fines: 691
- Prosecuted fines: 110
York
- 2023/2024 fines: 1,537
- 2022/2023 fines: 1,126
- Unauthorized holidays: 1,492
- Paid fines: 1,177
- Withdrawn fines: 63
- Prosecuted fines: 5
North Yorkshire
- 2023/2024 fines: 2,914
- Unauthorized holidays: 2,871
- Paid fines: 2,504
- Withdrawn fines: 191
- Prosecuted fines: 79
East Yorkshire
- 2023/2024 fines: 3,250
- 2022/2023 fines: 2,826
- Unauthorized holidays: 3,182
- Paid fines: 2,684
- Withdrawn fines: 557
- Prosecuted fines: 9
Hull
- 2023/2024 fines: 3,156
- 2022/2023 fines: 2,426
- Unauthorized holidays: 2,574
- Paid fines: 2,285
- Withdrawn fines: 191
- Prosecuted fines: 680
Nationally, 487,344 penalty notices were issued for unauthorized absences last year. This is a 22% increase from the previous year.
Most of these fines, about 91%, were for families taking unauthorized holidays. School leaders stress the importance of attendance but understand parents’ challenges.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasized the need for a national effort to tackle school absences. She believes fines are necessary to hold everyone accountable.