A record number of fines for term-time holidays were issued in England last year, as new government figures reveal the ongoing tension between family finances and school attendance rules.

According to data from the Department for Education, the number of fines issued for term-time holidays rose by 4% year on year in 2024-25 to 459,288, accounting for 93% of all fines issued for unauthorised school absence. The figures are also the first to reflect a rule change introduced in 2024, which increased the value of each fine from £60 to £80 per parent, per child.

The financial appeal of travelling outside of school holidays is easy to understand. Families can save thousands of pounds by avoiding peak season pricing, and for many, term-time is the only window in which a holiday is realistically possible. Lucy from East Sussex, currently on holiday in Lanzarote with her husband and three children, told the BBC that as a farming family, January is simply the only time of year they can get away. RAF officer Chris found himself in a similar position, explaining that military commitments make it impossible to holiday during conventional school breaks. He was fined by Staffordshire County Council but successfully appealed, aided in part by a letter from his commanding officers.

Appeal Process

Not everyone will find the appeal process so straightforward, however, and the fines themselves carry a sharp escalation structure. A first fine costs £80 if paid within 21 days, rising to £160 if paid within 28 days. A second fine for the same child within three years costs £160 immediately. For a third unauthorised absence, authorities may pursue prosecution, which can result in a fine of up to £2,500 or even a jail sentence of up to three months. All money collected goes directly to the local authority.

Headteachers have urged parents to weigh these risks carefully. Darren Morgan, head teacher of Kings Road Primary in Manchester, warned that the impact of missing school can be “quite significant” and lead to meaningful gaps in children’s learning. For now, the record fine figures suggest that for many families, the cost calculation still favours the holiday – but the rules are tightening, and the consequences of repeated absences are becoming considerably harder to ignore.