A Freedom of Information request has today revealed the exact number of Truancy Penalty Notices (TPNs) issued by the Isle of Wight council (IWC) over the last four years.
The request was submitted by Isle of Wight father, Jon Platt, who rose to national fame in 2015 after refusing to pay school absence fines he’d received from the IWC. Island Magistrates said he had no case to answer and he subsequently won again when the IWC took the case to the High Court.
Total number of TPNs
The FOI reveals the changing number of TPNs issued over the last four years.
2012/13 : 310 (40 withdrawn)
2013/14 : 1,215 (95 withdrawn)
2014/15 : 1,452 (0 withdrawn)
2015/16 : 873 (59 withdrawn)
Grand total 3,850 (194 withdrawn)
TPNs have two levels of fine. Initially £60, rising to £120 if not paid within 21 days. Assuming all TPNs were paid on time, the income raised through fines for the IWC comes to over £231,000.
Under 3.5% have been withdrawn.
Problem with truancy
It’s worth noting that Truancy Penalty Notices (TPNs) relate to all unauthorised absences which include truancy, unauthorised late arrival and holidays not agreed.
When Hampshire Children’s Services took over in 2013, the Isle of Wight had a very big problem with truancy in schools – they were the highest in the country. That issue has been tackled over the past three years and according to council papers has improved.
DfT to part-pay cost costs
The FOI request also revealed the Department for Education have agreed to pay £14,631 of the costs associated with the IWC taking Jon Platt to the High Court in May.
The IWC will be seeking to have the ruling overturned in the Supreme Court. The DfE have agreed to cover those costs too.
Speaking to OnTheWight this evening, Jon Platt said,
“Delighted to see that there’s such a dramatic fall in TPNs issued between June 2014/15 (54) and the most recent June, 2015/16 (17). That’s a 68% drop.
“On top of that the market uptick in the number of fines withdrawn in May after the High Court finding – 31 withdrawn against 53 being issued, that’s getting on for half of them.
“To my mind this shows that they’ve realised that they’ve issued the fines unlawfully.”
Article edit
8.20pm Comment from Jon Platt added.
Image: allenthepostman under CC BY 2.0
