School absence fines

Rules change in August:

However, under the new national framework, all schools will be required to consider a fine when a child has missed 10 or more sessions (5 days) for unauthorised reasons.

From August 2024, the fine for school absences across the country will be £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days.

This rate is in line with inflation and is the first increase since 2012.

In the case of repeated fines, if a parent receives a second fine for the same child within any three-year period, this will be charged at the higher rate of £160.

Fines per parent will be capped to two fines within any three-year period. Once this limit has been reached, other action like a parenting order or prosecution will be considered.

If you’re prosecuted and attend court because your child hasn’t been attending school, you could get a fine of up to £2,500.

What a shame your children so happen to be ill at that time, and can't go into school.
D&V needs 48 hours away from school/work after symptoms have cleared to make sure you wont pass it on to anybody else. Wink wink (edited)

Our local authority sends spies round if they're all off at the same time to make sure you're at home.

It's basically about revenue generation, same as car parking, litter fines etc.

Get your company to mail you the award, and explain to them that your children's education is more important to you than a workplace award?

Its just a workplace award my friend, from a company that doesn't seem to realise that its employees have families otherwise they'd dish out the award in summer or just send it to you. Unless its a Nobel prize or Victoria cross ask yourself if its worth the bother

What sort of award takes 6 days to attend?
Sounds bonkers, go by yourself and save the hassle of fines and what not from council (it is not the school that fines you).

We just pay the fines every year, we hire a villa in menorca for around 1k end of September or its 5k in August, and flights 1k vs 2k, we save nearly 5k by paying the fines, keep them coming (edited)

What council or area of country? Someone's experience in the north would have no relevance to a school in Cornwall

I agree with Imogenthat and AMaky,
A Nobel prize or Victoria cross is a note worthy award and I'm sure the school will fully understand why it's important for your children to miss school, your achievement will probably be celebrated in a school assembly and will probably be invited to give a talk to the whole school.
Awards from work tend to be adult only events. Employee of the month, best salesperson of the month is not the same as a Nobel prize however much it means to you. It's like you taking time off for six days to goto your child's 25m swimming award or them getting a yellow belt in karate, your work will not be very understanding.
I've seen people with similar excuses or illnesses to return weeks later having made miraculous recovery and sporting a lovely sun tan, I've seen videos of bedridden people who was off sick and can't work drinking, dancing and diving in mud at Glastonbury, I'm sure the school have too.
Schools in this country is actually very relaxed, being punctual, well dressed, with good manners makes children into good citizens, in japan school children clean the school so they look after and respect their the environment they're in. Children who miss school can be very disruptive to a class, they miss subjects and when they return they don't understand the subject so they deliberately gets kicked out of a class or start missing school because they don't want to look stupid for not understanding or can keep up with their classmates.
Quite simple, explain to work why it's impossible for you to attend because how important you value your children's education or ask the school what are the consequences because this award is so important and face the consequences and pay the fine.

A few years ago I applied for a couple of days leave for my son. It was over Easter and the school was off all the first week we were intending to go and Monday Tuesday of the second. Thursday was an election day and the school was a polling station, hence closed. I was therefore looking at the Wednesday and the friday. I filled in the form but accidentally put the dates in wrong and applied for the Wednesday and Friday of the first week when the whole school was on the Easter holiday. It got refused and I was threatened with fines and further action if my son was not in school those days, the days when everyone was on holiday

How old are your children?? Because schools and councils can't do anything if kids are not 5 yet