Parents Face Prison For Taking Children Out Of School For 5 Days

15th January 2014

Teachers can strike whenever they want, can have "training days" and minority religious groups take their children to Pakistan for weeks on end.

But white British families must ask permission and be fined with the possibility of going to prison.

That'll be England for you!


A couple who took their children out of school for their first family holiday in five years risk being jailed for refusing to pay fines imposed under a new law.

Stewart and Natasha Sutherland will appear in court after they took their three children to the Greek island of Rhodes during term time.

Under laws which came into effect on September 1, they were fined £360, but were unwilling to pay and the penalty doubled to £720.

The six-day break in September last year could cost them up to £2,000 in fines – and both could be jailed for up to three months by magistrates in Telford, Shropshire.

Mr Sutherland, 39, said: ‘We haven’t been able to get leave in the school holidays at the same time for five years and we desperately needed a family break.

‘I know how important education is but family time is important, too. The children’s behaviour and schooling has improved massively since our holiday.’

Mr Sutherland and his 36-year-old wife booked the family trip 11 months before the new legislation came into force. He said: ‘At that point, I wasn’t even aware of the new legislation.

‘We had a letter back warning we could be fined, but as the holiday was already booked and paid for what could I do?’

Kay Burford, of Telford and Wrekin council, said the legislation ‘clearly makes the point’ that headteachers cannot grant leave in term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.

She added: ‘Significant absence from school is disruptive to the child’s education and has a detrimental impact on attainment.’

http://metro.co.uk/2014/01/14/couple-face-jail-for-taking-children-on-term-time-trip-4263243/

What age? unless they are in the last 3 years of school (10 to 12 here) the argument about education is faulty they will just as likely develop more as functional human beings by the holiday.

As if the prison system isnt already swamped by people who have no reason to be in gaol
perhaps this would be better stomached if the govt forced a price control on holiday firms particularly during the summer break...