Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Parents hit by truancy fines
Soaring numbers of parents across the Black Country have been fined for letting their children skip school during term time, figures reveal today.
Families jetting off to sunnier climes for cheaper holidays and pupils missing school in the run-up to exams are among the reasons fixed penalty notices of up to £50 have been issued.
Walsall has seen the biggest increase in fines for unauthorised absences following a new crackdown – almost double last year’s total.
While 64 fines were issued to parents during term time in 2007-08, a blitz has seen that number soar to 111 so far this academic year.
Education bosses have even negotiated discounted holidays with travel agents for families who take children away during school breaks to crackdown on absence figures, once among the highest in the country.
Clare Lunn, spokeswoman for Serco, the firm in charge of education in Walsall, said: “Some parents wrongly believe that holiday absence is an entitlement, similar to an annual leave allocation for working adults, but in reality, children have a right to education every day that their school is open.”
School chiefs said each case of absence was determined on its merits, but said it was up to the schools, and not parents, to decide when their child should be in class.
In Sandwell, 149 fixed penalty fines were issued for unauthorised absences in 2007-08, with 112 issued so far this academic year.
In 2008-09, Wolverhampton education chiefs issued 73 instant £50 fines, which can double to £100 if not paid within 28 days.
In Dudley, 23 fines have been paid this year by parents whose children have skipped school, while last year, 22 fines were paid. Meanwhile, in Kidderminster, parents have been charged if their children miss school before exams.
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Revenue raising again. The council is more interested in the revenue than the ”truancy”.
As for the families, it is still cheaper to go abroad in school term with the fine, than it is to go in the school holidays.
Why is it SO expensive to go on holiday in the school holidays when people in Spain are struggling to let apartments?
I will tell you why, it is typical of rip of Britain that’s why.
Hoteliers are charging less, apartments are cheaper but prices are rising.
No wonder people are taking their kids out of school for a holiday.
It is hardly ”truancy” is it.
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I for one will continue to take our daughter out of school for holidays because I am not prepared to pay up to 50% more for ‘peak’ times. Of corse as she gets older and has exams etc i will ensure that the holiday is not around or before that important time! Until the big holiday companies change thier stance on this parents will pay the £50 fine because when you ofset that against the price during the holidays you have still saved hundreds of pounds!
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Simple answer to this problem, put a tax loading on holiday companies who deliberately cause this problem by increasing holiday prices in term time, have a government regulator who you can report a holiday company too if their prices are increased by more than 10%, problem solved.
Jim of Bearwood
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if school is so important and every day matters why do teachers strike??also why are the schools allowed to take kids away for the week
its disgusting i go away next week and the same holiday in august was listed at £3,000 extra
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Kids out of school during term time were a pain at Butlins.
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It is not fair in the way holiday companies cash in during the school summer holidays by putting up the prices. What many people don’t probably know, is that as long as you tell the school and be honest with them, you are allowed to take a child out of school during term time for 10 days per academic year. You can even give the child school work to do whilst they are on their holiday.
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I’ve got primary school aged kids and cannot believe that they are going to miss out so much on a few days of school. Never seems to stop inset days, usually on Mondays after, or Friday before the extensinve holidays.
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I was at B’ham Airport yesterday and couldn’t believe the amount of children there about to jet off with their families.
No. 1, it is not another tax – it is a fine. Children should be in school during term time – simple as that. No excuses. You say it is hardly truancy but you are wrong.
My children’s education is more important than a cheap holiday and that is why we bite the bullet and pay the extra at the appropriate time.
No wonder this country’s going to the dogs with poorly educated and ill-disciplined louts unable to find a job hanging about on street corners all day long. If they’d been encouraged by their parents to actually be in school when they were supposed to be…
We reap what we sow.
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After reading some of the comments on this thread I am not in the least bit surprised at the catastrophic decline in our societies values and morals! My goodness do you people realise what you are saying! …….. you are putting your own selfish desires before that of your offsprings education! ….. and what role models you are portraying.
There Was once a time when Britain Was Great! …………..
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There are “pros” and “cons” with this issue. If children are absent during term time but with the permission of their school, bearing in mind the 10 day rule, then surely that is fine?
However, if they are absent because they can’t be bothered to attend school, then a fixed penalty is the only way some parents will ensure their children do not do it again.
It is all about being sensible and looking at each case individually. I am sure, based on the reported figures, that this is a relatively small figure in ratio to pupil numbers v days truant.
Therefore, it is still totally unacceptable for pupils to not attend their school during school time when not authorised, and I for one, would increase the penalty as a deterent.
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What planet are you on No 1- Hotels and apartments are no cheaper or are you in an area where the Euro is stll low-I do not think so–
Kids should be in school although most of those that bunk off have no chance in life- Because most of their parents are LOSERS–Crazey Dave
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I agree with Wollibuga and Dave,Kids should be in school during term time. it seems to me that SOME parents are not capable of accepting their responsibilities as Parents. They have the children and then expect the country to bow down to their petty demands. As has been said, no wonder the country is becoming so violent, the parents have no discipline themselves, so no wonder a lot of the youth today don’t have any.
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I am pleased that you can afford the over inflated prices during the holiday periods takk!
Takk and Woolibuga are bang out of order and I think you should think carefully before tarring everyone with the same brush here because there IS a big difference between having the odd week over a school year to having a child that is off every other week. Barr the one term that my child does have a week off she has 100% attendance and is a bright clever child who is encouraged by myself and my wife to do well at school.
Woolibuga/Takk ‘us people’ do our best amongst difficult times and i suggest you keep your ill conceived opinions to yourselves!
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I’m going on Holiday in October Term time AND taking my 9 year old son with me. I take him out of school every year for a holiday and for other activity days, As was agreed in advance with his school that I be allowed to do so in advance of enrolling him…
Yet my son scored top if his class for his last SAT exam and receives glowing reports every year from school so he’s obviously not suffering .
Sometimes these trips provide an education kids just can’t get in the classroom!
On holiday we will be teaching him Maths (currency conversion) Geography (he knows where we are going and surrounding countries) History, (we often like to visit cultural and historical monuments while away). R.E. Turkey is a predominantly a Muslim country and much more, all on a one to one basis.
So how about we stop stereotyping parents who take their kids out of the classroom for any period of time as losers (number 11) or selfish (number 9) and look at the beneifts of these extra curricular activities and concentrate our efforts on dealing with the parents who’s children aren’t getting any education through truancy!
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I guess these fines is another excuse to get more money out of us dont they get enough with rising council tax and taxes They all need get a life.
Who can with kids afford to go in school holls ?
only if you well off and there not many of us well off.This Goverment makes sure of this.
I have a grown up son who lives with his dad who is almost 17 missed school leaving age he hated school but left this May he got a letter for a fine and not even new till turn up about 2 weeks ago he got go to court issued in March.
He has a placement in colledge and happy has fees to pay but this can only poss be done if people stop taking money for all the wrong reasons.
Wonder who will get the big Gold Plated pensions it deffo wont be me
And a word to all those Gready holiday companies please give families a break and keep prices down we are in a reccesion or have you forgot that
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Some of the close-minded comments posted on this topic make me wonder whether some of those commenting actually went to school or got an education themselves? Education doesn’t only happen in the classroom between 9am-3pm, it happens everywhere, all of the time, including whilst on holiday!
Thank god for voices of reason such as ‘Steph’ above. Of course fining parents for taking kids out of school during term-times is revenue raising, it’s a quick buck for the LA, and is another example of the nanny state we live in.
Maybe if the British education system wasn’t the failing, shambolic mess that it is parents would be more inclined to pay extra for holidays and keep their kids in school?
But seeing what my son learns at primary school in one week, he could go on holiday for a month and not only would he not miss out on anything, he’d learn a hell of a lot more than he does in school during a week!
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I can’t believe there are so many irresponsible people on here.
Firstly children are not entitled to 10 days leave of absence. There is no entitlement. It is at the discretion of the headteacher whether the request of a parent is granted.
Secondly every child is entitled to 190 days of schooling an acedmic year. Teachers are required to work 195 days. Hence the 5 days INSET are not taken from directed school time. Teachers cannot take there holidays at any other time of the year.
Finally education occurs as much outside the school as within in it. I bet those irresponsible parents who take holidays are the same who do not listen to their child read, do not encourage them to complete their homework and do not attend parents evening.
Our society seems to believe they have a right to a holiday, but so easily neglect the responsibility of having a child.
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Ok .. so children have to be in school EVERY DAY except when its a teacher training day (ie, teachers come in for the morning and are at home in the afternoon) or snow is falling or even forcast and the teachers find it too difficult to travel in so close the school.
GET REAL !!!
Those that do .. do .. those that cant .. teach
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Can this be the same Serco who repeatedly denied our(blameless ) son an appropriate education and drove him out of borough to be educated after missing nearly a year of GCSE education? Who is going to fine Tony Stainer or the other overpaid “directors” for failing in their duty?
Serco words fail to describe you!
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What a lot of people thinking it’s their right to go on holiday, whilst avoiding children’s right to an education.
And from so called “working class” people too… glad to know that respect for learning and knowledge is so much stronger than greed, selfishness and the ovine desire to follow social norms as if they were Papal decrees.
Just stay at home and sod the holiday. Then everyone’s happy.
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Holiday companies would claim that they don’t increase prices in the school holidays, but cut them in term time. If holiday companies were foreced to charge the same prices for holidays and term-time then prices for everyone would increase, and many companies would go bust. Holiday hotels, and planes would lie idle. People without kids would be forced to pay more, all because some people think saving £100 is more important than giving their kid a chance in life.
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no 11 Billywiseman:
First of all I am on this planet and luckly living in a much better place than you and yours thanks. Also let me asure you that the Spanish Hotels and apartment holders HAVE dropped their prices as I said originally. As I also said these cuts are not being passed on because of the culture of greed in your country where profit is god. Don’t blame european countries like Spain for the value of the euro look a bit nearer home.
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And inset days and voting days and oh its too cold to open days. Do something about the cost of holidays then.
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IM GOING TO SUGGEST MY WORKPLACE SHUTS THEN THEN WE CAN ALL HAVE THE SAME WEEKS OFF ,300 PLUS PEOPLE CARNT ALWYS GET THE OUT OF TERM TIMES
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Wednesbury Wolf (no 13)
I am not bang out of order for telling it like it is. Children should be in school during term time – no excuses.
I stand by my previous comments on the matter most vociferously. Children learn from the examples of their parents.
And regards our being able to afford to take our family holiday during the more expensive holiday period – well we are able to do this because we save throughout the year and make many sacrifices to do so; that, after all, is what being a parent is all about.
When we became parents we accepted that we were taking on a huge responsibility and that sacrifices would have to be made and we would have to make changes to our lifestyle. We were only too glad to do so.
I reiterate, my children’s education is far more important than a cheap holiday.
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Wednesbury Wolf and Others, …….. My! My! it would seem that some well aimed darts have scored a Bullseye! ………… however no “ill conceived opinion” is going to shake you from your pinnacle of arrogance so perhaps it would bode well for the rest of society if the penalty is increased to £500!…. maybe then you will get the message and start to take responsibilty as a parent! …… and bear this in mind Wednesbury Wolf ….. as a taxpayer with no offspring in the education system I am still paying in part for ensuring that yours get an education!………..
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“Clare Lunn, spokeswoman for Serco, the firm in charge of education in Walsall”. Just who is in charge of education these days – why is a firm dealing with education, what are their qualifications, and how did they get the job.
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Children do NOT have to attend school – only those who are on a school register. Thousands of youngsters are quite legally educated at home by their parents.
Not all truants will be accompanying their parents on holiday. Does anyone ever ask, or even care, why these children and young people chose not to attend school?
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Your childrens education is far more important than over inflated holidays. Allow for the extra cost if you really want to go, or face the fine simple as that. Don’t keep moaning about what you think is your right. Your rights are what you are told they are by the education dept. Schools ofsted reports are often judged by attendance so when your school goes into special needs who’s fault will it be then????
There is an increase in main season prices that should be dealt with, and yes this is rip off britain, always has been.
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There is one very simple solution to avoiding the fines. Stop registering your children at birth, that way you cannot be forced to send your child to school and you cannot be forced to pay any fine. Once you register your child at birth, you have given up ownership of them and they now are the property of the state!
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It’s a legal obligation to register your child at birth Janet. No registration no NI No education Cannot read or write. No NHS entitlement-Are you on this planet or what???
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brian,
If the school and education authority have no regard for their statutory duty, they have lost the moral right to fine parents.The PRIVATE company running education in Walsall are a disgrace. As for Ofsted in the last twelve months they have become discredited-Haringey? They judge schools on their intake and that is it!
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Erm, hang on…. I see arguments from both sides reference the school holiday thing but how about the parents who just don’t give a damn and let their children skive for whatever reason they like to hang around shopping centres!! This is the problem. I notice Walsall was top of the list. I was at Walsall bus station a few weeks ago and it was FULL of teenage louts hanging around shouting swearing and being a general nuisance!! These are the truents that need dealing with – it was like an audition show for the next generation of Jeremy Kyle guests!!!!!
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Taking a holiday in term time does not make me or anybody else that does this an irresponsible parent! When are you going to get that to register?
A parent that allows thier children to stay off school every other week and has no interest in thier welfare at school etc is irresponsible and I for one am not in that category and would appreciate not being tarred with the same brush by the likes of Takk! Woolibunga a debt of gratitude to you for paying a miniscule part of our childrens education!
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Brian no-one puts a gun to your head and forces you to register your child at Birth, you have a choice. As soon as your child is registered, you are no longer the owner of the children, simply the guardian. National Insurance is not mandatory either, once you submit to a national insurance number, you are no longer a free individual but an employee of the state, the state owns you.
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Wednesbury Wolf (34.)
Taking a holiday in term time does make you (and everybody else that does this) an irresponsible parent! Not as irresponsible as some I grant you, but irresponsible non-the-less.
When are you going to get that to register?
We have rules in this country for a reason yet people see it as their right to break those rules whenever they choose – whether it be speeding, making their children play truant by taking their holiday in term time, whatever.
When the authorities attempt to fine people for breaking the rules they are accused of using such fines as a stealth tax.
Maybe the authorities should do away with the fines and bring in custodial sentances – extreme I know (and I personally would not advocate it) however it would certainly wake people up to their responsibilities because from what I can tell there seems to be plenty of people around here who are prepared to shirk theirs whenever they choose to.
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Nice post Janet, it is amazing how many people register their children at birth without knowing what this process actually means. Similar to registering a vehicle with the dvla, once it’s registered you have to abide by the rules of the dvla, no tax or insurance and your car can legally be taken from you and impounded. This is because the dvla own your car once it is registered, you are the legal keeper of the vehicle but the dvla own it. People need to wise up to the the way the system works, break out of the eggshell and look at the bigger picture.
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in my childs class 6 childern have been out of school for the last 18 weeks missing the SATs tests visiting families in pakistan/indian will the families of the childern be fined when they get back
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Thats ok if you don’t register your child personally Janet, but beware your child is automatically registered at birth in the hospital theres no getting out of the system my dear. You register your child to obtain a birth certificate. What a stupid attitude. So you would end up with uneducated child who cannot obtain any kind of social help including tax credits, a pension when they retire and no NHS care. They couldn’t even obtain a driving licence. Your NI no is required for most things these days including a passport!! What world do you live in?
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Oh My god no 37 have people suddenly become stupid or what? You obviously don’t agree with whats law then eh? So lets have loads of un registered cars on the road that you can’t trace. Buy a new car and its registered for you. Oh dear what if it’s un registered and stolen-how are you going to inform the police on that one eh? Or maybe you won’t tell the police because who are they after all, maybe you don’t even accept them as officers of the law. You need to become a revolutionary then maybe you’d talk some sense!!
Registering your car is law-finable if you don’t as is your childs registration. It would be a stupid person who did not abide by this, But then again there’s no shortage of those is there?
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Brian have you not heard of home births? You really should educate yourself before commenting.
You do not have to be registered to get an EDUCATION. In the UK we are all entitled to a free education.
Regarding the tax credits and welfare system, these would not be available if you don’t submit to a national insurance number. Who wants to rely on the welfare system anyway? There are plenty of lawful ways to make a living.
Brian like I said, people need to break out of the eggshell and look at the big picture. Some people are happy to be trapped in their eggshell their whole life.
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When my children come out of the education system with a range of grades to enable them to get on in life, be it college, university or straight in to work I’ll think back to your comments Takk of being an irresponsible parent!
You do make me laugh how you now are generalising the fines into other area’s of the law implying yet again that the majority of law breaking, irresponsible parents are in need of (not that you advocate it) custodial sentences ! GENIUS! Have you though about politics?
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Twiggy why don’t you just concentrate on looking after your own children? If other peoples children miss their exams it is no concern of yours. It sounds as if you would love the 6 childrens parents to be fined simply because they are a different colour to you? You have an ugly, vulgar attitude!
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Brian don’t try and put words in my mouth. You are not aware of what the registration process really means, you think everyone else does it so you have to aswell.
Brian from your own comments it appears you are extremely naive. I am finished debating with one whom cannot think outside of the box.
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To Janet and Jayd-You must live in fantasy land. I suggest you just keep on towing your caravans to where ever your heart takes you. It sounds like a tinkers life for both of you ,and don’t forget to talk to the pixies you never know what you might learn. Your parents must have took you out of school a lot because you both talk like you are in need of a good education!! As for being naive-er no just a realist. Janet what the hell is a free education got to do with being registered. You talk in absolute stupid riddles. You are in need of an education.As for the benefits system i’m glad you are self reliant knocking on doors and selling your pegs for a living!!! Sorry but i can’t debate with fools like you anymore!!
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The Mind Boggles! ……. when I read some of the comments of individuals who advocate that there is no need to do this and no need to do that! …….. no need to obey the rules and regulations that bind our society into a livable and stable one! ….. if what you people advocate is implemented we will have arrived at a state called Anarchy! ….. and from what we see happening in the Britain thus far we are well on the way to it! ……..
If the individuals who think it is their God given right to ignore the rules put in place to protect themselves, their children and the rest of society would chose to take their in term holidays complete with offspring’s to venues like Somalia, Zimbabwe and Angola were they can enjoy a Holiday without the dreadful encumbrance of Laws, Rules and Regulations they would be giving themselves and their offspring a true Education! …………
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Jayd and Janet-sounds like you have got life completely sorted out.Wonder how you got the internet? Anyone have a bank account so they can pay by direct debit, or do you pay cash eh? Can’t give any details away to your bank, especially your NI Number and name and address which is what is needed!!
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No. 38 Welcome aboard Twiggy, you are the kind of person we need in the BNP, people that can see the real problems in society.
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Woolibuga if its cheaper im there! (That was a joke by the way!!)
Word of the day goes to your good self with the use of “encumbrance” in a sentence!
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Brian it appears as though it is you that has missed out on much needed education. For your information I have 2 university degrees.
Brian like I have said many times, registering your child is not a must, you have a choice, although in your case it seems as though I am talking to a brick wall.
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Two university degrees -well done, but you obviously missed the third degree in common sense!!!Registering your child is a legal obligation, but i suppose, yes your right, you do have a choice in whether or not you break the law!!
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Can’t believe that someone with two degrees can spout the nonsense you do Janet-OH hang on a minute how did you get the degrees ? Surely the university would have had to have some information on you-like maybe your NI Number or maybe you got the degrees without really existing-Fool!!
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Janet you say National insurance isn’t mandatory? If you aren’t registered i doubt very much if you own an O’level let alone a degree.As this is required for you to entre university.
You seem to have missed the point of this debate. Its only about taking your kids out of school, and not fighting the establishment. We all argue when we are told we cannot do something, and always think it’s our right as humans to do it anyway. We are all part of society and you really seem to be in another world.
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It’s a problem thats’ been around for many years now and does not seem to be going away. You must ask yourselves the question why the Cinical price hike for the Holiday seasons. When people work hard all year and wish to take a Holiday with their families – why should they have to pay premiums on the Time they have to take. So in these days of pulling the Credit in – why do we not see still a reduction in these “Rip Offs”.
I thought the Government was looking into these claims of OverCharging – Whats happened NOTHING – but you as parents could be fined for
doing something that those “Fat Cats” at the Houses of Parliament ar doing – which is trying to avoid paying through the nose.
Sorry butin all times today it’s one rule for them and another for us !!!
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Brian you are obviously a common peasant with no knowledge of law. You are a lost cause or to put it politely, a moron and an imbecile. Good luck with your life on welfare!
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wake up people- Serco have no interest in your child’s education. Their only interest is in performance indicators and hitting their own bonus related targets.
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Janet you are full of it! You talk no facts at all, and cannot backup anything you talk about.-Go on then back your idiot views up with facts. As for welfare-Sorry WRONG As for knowledge of law -check YOUR facts on Government and legal websites then come back to me when you know what you are talking about. As for common -yes thats probably correct As for Moron well i’d reserve that for no knowledge guess at it artists like yourself. So go on Janet put your two so called degrees (probably in sociology and poetry) where your mouth is and show us some facts and how well we could live if we were unknowns in this big world!!!!!!
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Janet I understand what you are saying, are you a freeman of the land by any chance?
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Janet-show us what you know-put your evidence of the law on the table before us. Try doing a search on the net about whats legal and whats not-I have, and then come back to us and eat humble pie. You talk alot about nothing, and know nothing.
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right lets start
i bet the workers who work for the education dept have holidays outside school term
why cause its cheaper
parents will aways try to get a cheap holiday
why can’t this crap government slap a fine on these holiday firms who charge over the top at school holiday times cause they know than can do it (shame on you) why charge double or triple at school times
you know what the british people should do is dont book holidays when there is school holidays, this would bring down the so called holiday firms
i would rather be fined £50 for a week and save £1000
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Well I was going to post something, theres nothing left to say except I dont have kids but I have seen friends kids and the crud they are forced to learn. How the hell is learning other peoples religion going to help get a job? The schools should move with the times and start learning youngsters the values of working for a living and paying bloody bills.
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Janet
You are talking absolute nonsense. Under “The Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953″ (http://www.england-legislation.hmso.gov.uk/RevisedStatutes/Acts/ukpga/1953/cukpga_19530020_en_2#pt1-l1g2)
In the case of every birth it shall be the duty—
(a)of the father and mother of the child; and
(b)in the case of the death or inability of the father and mother, of each other qualified informant,
to give to the registrar, before the expiration of a period of forty–two days from the date of the birth, information of the particulars required to be registered concerning the birth, and in the presence of the registrar to sign the register.
Jayd, you are also talking nonsense (who’d have thought finding two idiots commeting on the same E&S article!). The DVLA doesn’t own your vehicle. The term “Registered Keeper” is used simply because many people don’t own their vehicles, but lease them, they are company cars, they’re on HP, or they are owned by another family member.
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Teachers yet again are getting a raw deal here. Every day we put up with not only the minority of students who are disrespectful and have no interest in bettereing themselves, but the increasing MAJORITY of parents who think that it is our jb to raise the child.
Also, we do not get to go on holidays in term time so why should the child? It simply means that pupils either miss important work and fall behind: or the parents force us to repeat lessons so effectively taxpayers are paying twice for the ame lesson being delivered. You decide!
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*bettering (typo)
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62. Have you ever wondered why it is called the Registration ACT? An ACT is not law. An ACT requires the consent of the Governed to carry the force of law. An Act is a statute, please read the legal definition of the word statute.
Many people do not know the difference between legal and lawful.
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Deejay it’s no good trying to explain. Many of the folk commenting on here are relatives of Notre Dame’s very own Quasimodo!
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DeeJay-ITs Law check out on any legal or government site. As for freemans yes no 58 you may be right. The David ike followers that think the queen is a shape shifting lizard and that all acts of law are fiction. Or do you rule because you are morally Superior Like janet and the peasants! The tweed coat and hat brigade of loonies i think.
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it’s a difficult one though if your child is being bullied something terrible and the school ignore it so they can have a clean record on bullying. It’s heart breaking to see them come home with torn clothes, bleeding shaking and begging you not to send them back… Having gone to the school to complain on each occasion and still they do nothing…
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DeejayIronic:
Bills are debated by parliament, and once approved become Acts. They are then part of statute law. The Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 is part of statue law and failure to comply with it is an offence.
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69. A statute is not law, it can only carry the FORCE of law if given consent by the governed. An act is just that, an act, similar to what you see on Coronation Street, acting. Why do you think it is called Registration ACT and not registration LAW? Because it is not law but an act.
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These comments make better reading than the actual article!
Please remember everyone is entitled to an opinion which may differ from your own. This does not mean they are stupid, on benefits, live with the pixies etc. It is their view point and should be debated without “mud slinging” or “comment trumps”.
Live and let live folks!
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parallel422 your comment “If holiday companies were forced to charge the same prices for holidays and term-time then prices for everyone would increase, and many companies would go bust” no they wouldn’t, the same argument was used for the minimum wage, people who didn’t want to lose profits were totally against a minimum wage, saying it would put companies out of business, losing profits is no reason to exploit any worker, if I job is needed to be done in a company then the person doing that job is entitled to be paid a fair wage to do it.
Wow all these barrack room lawyers spouting the law, unless you have actually trained to practice law then what your saying is only your opinion and your interpretation of the law, two fully trained barristers could have completely different interpretations of a point of law, that’s where their knowledge comes into force, and that’s where they have to use their skill to put a factual argument over, if the law was so precise then it would only need a judge and probably a computer program, where the judge could input all the facts, press enter and a specified decision would be printed out.
Fact!!!! people are saying you cant do anything without registering in the UK, people come to our shores with no proof of identity, they do this deliberately to avoid being returned to their homeland and they live here quite happily, there is a system provided for people that haven’t registered in the UK, true most law abiding people will register and will go along with the system.
Now to my own personal views, if it’s ok to have a system where children can only be taken out of school at certain times, and for them all to have to take their holidays at that specified time, why don’t the people advocating that system also take their holidays at the same times as everyone else, in short why don’t MP’s take their holidays in the same 6 weeks as the peasants do????
Regarding the effect of a child’s education being effected by being taken out of school to enjoy a holiday, if it’s so important to have highly educated children, why then do successive British governments throw them on the scrap heap as soon as they walk out of the school gates for the last time, why do they totally ignore these youngsters hopes and aspirations for the future once they have received this valuable education????
Every year thousands of youngsters leave education only to find there is no opportunity to use these valuable skills because government policy has allowed the jobs to be exported abroad to third world countries.
woolibuga reference your comment “their children and the rest of society would chose to take their in term holidays complete with offspring’s to venues like Somalia, Zimbabwe and Angola were they can enjoy a Holiday without the dreadful encumbrance of Laws, Rules and Regulations” I suggest you look up “The Warlords Next Door” you will see that the UK is actually funding the war in Somalia, perhaps if that money was used to subsidise out manufactutring industry then we could compete with other countries selling cheap products, and we could keep more jobs for youngsters in this country.
Jim of Bearwood
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2.Wednesbury Wolf
You could do with going back to school yourself, your spelling is terrible. I pity your daughter if you are taking her out of class during term time if she turns out like you!
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Would seem that this thread took a detour from the essence of the pertinent article! …… but the issue remains the same! ……. should parents circumvent the Rules and Regulations with impunity or should they have to pay a price to do so! …… are they acting responsibly or are they acting irresponsibly and putting a cheaper holiday before the best interests of their offspring and should they be bemoaning the fact that vendors of these holiday packages a doing what is in fact the very same thing that they are doing!…. “Trying to get more for Less” ……… Why do you think Petrol prices seem to escalate just in time for Long weekends and Holidays and why is there an Off Season and a Peak Season tariff! ……. it’s simple! … it’s called Supply and Demand and Yourselves are to blame for it! ….. you are in effect helping to destroy the very thing you are so desperately seeking ” That affordable cheaper more for less Holiday”! ……… Best of Luck! ……………….
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At the end of the day the parents of the children whom take holidays in term time should be imprisoned. A very simple solution. It is the children who are taken on holiday in term time that in later life go on to become prime Jeremy Kyle stars.
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Amy, If all you have got to do is critise a spelling mistake I suggest you get a life! I had noticed the mistake but didnt feel the need to correct myself as i have better things to do! What do you know about me anyway Amy…in future just contribute to the thread don’t critise a flipping spelling mistake.
Jim…for once I agree with your comments!
Brian as I said in an earlier thread I will look back fondly when my children finish school and go on to either higher education or straight in to a job at the rubbish being spouted about irresponsible parents and imprisonment (Is that correct spelling Amy as I don’t have spell check!?!) due to taking a holiday in term time! Comedy at its best Brian!
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Oh and before you say it…. critise was spelt incorrectly on purpose! Honest!
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Wolf please don’t call this comedy. It is an extremely important issue. I would throttle you myself if you came near me for the benefit of your children. They need to be in school, all of the time, no excuses, no sickies!
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Brian you are obviously living in fantasy land and your comments cannot be taken seriously. I suspect that you may be on strong medication.
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Brian you really are talking rubbish the welfare of my children is just fine thank you I suggest you turn your attention to the real problem that is kids being off every other week and not a week off every acedemic year!! You now scale new heights with threatening to throttle me! Genius!
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DeejayIronic, well done! You’ve had a group of lawyers in hysterical laughter at your assertion that Acts of Parliament aren’t law. By your definition there are no laws in the UK, bar common law. You are free to drive at whatever speed you like on the motorway (after all the Road Traffic Act is just an act like Corrie!), and the smoking ban doesn’t apply (except presumably in the Queen Vic, where the Health Act does apply). Acts of Parliament are laws, full stop.
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Wolf the comments from me are the ones arguing with Janet-there are two brians on here just thought i’d put u in the picture. I don’t agree with jail for parents although i do say in my comments we have to be realistic with our kids eduction – so pay the extra price of the holidays and abide by the rules unless you have no choice.
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Sorry brian (82) it was not aimed at you! With regards education I am realistic because I would never plan a holiday around important times of the academic year and i would ensure we have work to take with us so that she does not fall behind!
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