More parents take pupils out of school to avoid rip-off prices

Tens of thousands more children have been missing lessons because parents are opting for cheaper term time summer holidays as the cost of living crisis bites, an i analysis of official school absence data suggests.

The equivalent of nearly three million school days were missed during the 2022 summer term, according to the latest available Department for Education (DfE) figures for absences due to unauthorised holidays.

That represents a 12.5 per increase on the same period in 2019 – the last summer before the pandemic temporarily shut down schools and halted international travel.

School leaders think a similar situation has been playing out this term as rocketing mortgage rates and food prices force more belt tightening.  Travel agency data obtained by i also points to the money saving term time holidays trend.

Head teachers say that children should not be missing lessons and are calling on the government to intervene over “rip-off” prices for holidays during the summer break.

El Jedras 41-year-old, from Natwich, Cheshire, said the cost of a UK-based holiday with her husband and three children would triple from £300 to £900 if they went during the school holidays.

She and her husband Kris Jedras have three children with special education needs aged three, four and eight so they also benefit from quieter travelling times.

Parents can be fined £60 for school absences, rising to £120 if the fine is not paid within 21 days. The rules vary between local councils, with some charging a fine per child and others fining each parent for each child.

Related Article

Once all her children start primary school, Mr and Mrs Jedras could be looking at total fines of £360 to take them on holiday during term time, as Cheshire East council fines both parents. But they think “it may still be worth it” due to price hikes in the travel industry during the school holidays.

“Right now, only one child is in primary school so I would definitely take the fine,” Mrs Jedras told i, adding that the cost of living crisis has been “very difficult” for her family.

Last summer the equivalent of nearly half a million – 483,741 – extra school days were taken off as unauthorised term time holiday, compared to summer 2019, according to the DfE figures for state schools in England.

That could amount to as many as 90,000 extra children being taken out of schools for holidays. That figure is based on calculations assuming the typical holiday is one week long – travel agency, Thomas Cook’s average booking for families – with five school days missed.

Now teachers’ leaders say they fear a similar situation this summer.

James Bowen, assistant general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), said: “Given the financial squeeze many families are facing and the massive hike in prices we see during the school holidays, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see this continuing to be an issue this summer.”

Thomas Cook has also found an increase in parents looking to save money on holidays during the cost-of-living crisis, with booking data suggesting families are increasingly willing to start their holidays earlier in July – before most schools break up for summer.

Data analysis by the travel firm based on searches for the last three months, compared to last year, found a dip in families with school-age children searching for August holidays and an uptick in families searching for July holidays.

A spokesperson said that in summer 20203, families were “shopping around for the best deals and doing what they can to get as much holiday for their money”.

Choice of destinations were changing, but so was timing. “August is still the most popular month for families to go away but we are seeing a slight increase in people booking holidays in July perhaps to take advantage of the lower prices earlier in the month,” the spokesperson said.

‘We deserve the right to take our children on holiday’

Kris and El Jedras, first removed their daughter Ruby – now 8 – from school during term time two years ago before the pandemic, and they plan to continue doing so.

“The main reason is the cost,” Ms Jedras told i. “Looking at a holiday that normally costs us about £300 would be up to £900 if we booked during the school holidays and we really can’t afford to do that.”

The couple have two other children – Phoenix, 4, and Sienna, 3 – and all three have special educational needs that also make going away when it is busier and noisy an unattractive option.

They have not been fined yet but said they would happily foot the bill of £60 per parent as they would still save money overall – even when all three of the children have started school.

“Generally, being two adults and three children is costly anyway,” Ms Jedras said. “My children have a lot of additional needs so we do have a lot of outgoing costs…

“One of the reasons why we go on holiday is to give the children a change of scenery. They need that experience of travelling, being somewhere new and experiencing new things.”

She has noticed an increasing trend of parents discussing the difference in the price of holidays, as well as the quality of the holiday because term times are quieter.

Mr Jedras argues that the fine system is “really flawed” as children need to have new experiences, but parents are contending with travel agents “hiking up prices” during school holidays.

She said: “We deserve the right to be able to take our kids on a holiday when they get to take a break and experience life as a family.”

 “Change needs to happen between the government, the airlines and schools.”

Head teachers want the government to address the issue with the travel industry. 

Mr Bowen said: “Removing children from school during term time is certainly not ideal as it can lead to children missing out on important parts of their learning and pose challenges for teachers who then have to help pupils to catch up.

“However, the scandalous hike in prices we have long seen during school holidays means many families feel going away during term time is their only option and the cost of living crisis is now putting even more pressure upon stretched household budgets.

“We need the government to step in and put a stop to this great holiday rip-off.”

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said he would “not be surprised” to see an increase in parents taking their children on holiday during term time due to the cost of living crisis.

“We fully appreciate the financial pressure on families but would appeal for parents not to do this,” he said.

He added: “It not only disrupts the learning of the child concerned but also places extra workload on teachers who then have to manage that absence and help that child catch up with lost learning.”

Sir Peter Lampl, Founder and Chairman of the Sutton Trust and Chairman of the Education Endowment Foundation, said: “It’s a major problem that more children are taking holidays during term time, missing out on essential learning.

“As a result of the cost-of-living crisis, families are increasingly struggling to make ends meet, and many are finding that holidays in the peak season are just too expensive. While all children should go on holiday, it’s crucial that they don’t miss school.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We know that regular school attendance is vital for a child’s education, wellbeing and future life chances. That is why we’ve expanded our attendance hubs and mentoring programmes – to ensure children have the best chance of receiving a high-quality education.

“Parents have a duty to make sure their child regularly attends school. Our guidance is clear that they should plan their holidays around school breaks and avoid seeking permission from schools to take their children out of school during term time unless it is absolutely unavoidable.”