Parliament will today (Monday) debate a petition calling for school penalty fines to be scrapped and for the return of ten-day authorised absence for school children.
The petition, created by Dave Hedley, has attracted just short of 200,000 signatures.
Island father on BBC Breakfast
Ahead of the debate, Isle of Wight father, Jon Platt – who recently won a High Court case brought against him by the Isle of Wight council for non payment of a £120 school absence fine – was this morning invited to talk on BBC Breakfast.
The Government response to the petition states that “research shows that the amount of time missed from school is linked with a pupil’s academic success”.
However, Mr Platt, as he has many times in the past, cited the Government’s own research paper (see Page 58 below) which states “the proportions of pupils achieving the expected level stay relatively similar for increasing levels of absence due to authorised family holidays, religious observance and study leave.”
Hopes for debate
Mr Platt said he hoped the statistics would be discussed fully today in Parliament and all views on the subject aired.
He’d also like MPs to acknowledge the change introduced by then-education minister, Michael Gove, was a mistake, adding how wrong he felt it was to criminalise hundreds of parents who want to take their kids on holiday in term time.
Attendance is “non-negotiable” say Government
The Government say that school attendance is non-negotiable and they were disappointed with the High Court ruling.
Last month, the DfE ‘asked’ the Isle of Wight council to appeal the High Court decision, which was recently rejected, but permission was granted to appeal to the Supreme Court. The DfE have stated they will cover the costs of the appeal.
The debate takes place today (Monday) at 4.30pm in Westminster Hall (watch live).
