Sir, As Libby Purves (Opinion, Oct 19) intimates, it is rarely for the sake of a “frivolous” holiday that parents take their children out of school. Often it is for family reasons, and sometimes it is the only way that a family can afford a holiday together, given that prices rise precipitously during school holidays.
The Department for Education claims that missing one week a year from school “can mean a child is a quarter less likely to achieve good GCSE grades”. These statistics lack credibility, as they do not take into account the multiple factors influencing achievement.
In the past, much “unauthorised” leave was simply not registered, as headteachers made wise judgments based on a pupil’s overall attendance. Councils have now been put in a position where pursuing such “irresponsible” parents not only brings in additional income but is a means to improve Ofsted ratings. Parents, meanwhile, make a financial calculation: whether the savings outweigh the fine they may receive.
School attendance is important. Equally, though, the government should regulate the travel industry to create a more equitable situation.
Sarah Mulholland
Mapperley, Nottingham
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Sir, Following Jon Platt’s victory (“Term-time holiday father wins battle to overturn £120 fine”, Oct 17, and letter, Oct 21), the Department for Education said: “It is a myth that missing school even for a short time is harmless to a child’s education.” Perhaps, then, it could explain why it is acceptable for children to “miss” school owing to directed teachers’ days; inset days; strike days; and to programme a summer holiday that started on July 17 and finished 47 days later.
Karen Thomson
Nolton, Pembrokeshire
Sir, Taking our children on holiday in term time has never been an option for me or any other teacher. The resulting “financial penalties” for members of the teaching profession have far exceeded the £120 fine which Mr Platt incurred for taking his family to Disney World. The elephant in the classroom is the (entirely unregulated) hiking of all associated holiday costs in school vacations.
Peter Sergeant
Loughborough Grammar School
Sir, Holiday prices during the school holidays are outrageous; teachers feel this too. But we have to be firm: term time is for education. Regular absence will harm a child’s education.
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Common sense is also required. There are unique and infrequent family events, both joyful and tragic, that justify a short absence and will not harm an education. I just don’t think a cheaper holiday is one of them.
Fines, however, seem ineffectual in changing behaviour. A better solution would be to vary term times across the country to spread the demand and reduce prices. One school, for example, grants ten days discretionary leave in return for students attending a two-week summer school.
Russell Hobby
General secretary, National Association of Head Teachers
Sir, In successfully challenging the punitive decision to fine him for taking his child on a term-time holiday, Jon Platt may help ministers to row back on the nonsense of their current approach to attendance. Good schools recognise that parents are one of the three pillars (teachers, pupils, parents) essential for learning and progress. High aspiration and achievement are dependent upon strong support from parents; the threat of unselective punishment only serves to undermine that.
Neil Roskilly
Independent Schools Association
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Sir, Two of my grandchildren were taken out of school for 18 months by their parents (their mother is a teacher) to sail a 30ft boat from Scotland to Sicily and back, via Ireland and much of coastal Europe. Upon their return they suffered no problems catching up. How many eight-year-olds know that there are two Sistine chapels and have visited both?
Neil Kennedy
Burnham on Crouch, Essex