Last Friday, a father was victorious in the High Court after he refused to pay a £120 fine for taking his child on holiday during term time. The High Court ruled that he shouldn’t have to pay the fine for taking his daughter on a dream holiday to Disneyworld in April last year. Now, over the course of the weekend, searchings and bookings for summer time holidays fell by 45% and 32% respectively. Searches for holidays during school term time are up 92%; this is according to data from an online travel agent.
In order to assess the impact that the court ruling would have, Sunshine.co.uk looked at searches and bookings made on May 13 and 14, then compared them to the previous weekend. Sunshine expected there would be an effect, particularly as the Government have hinted they could change the law following the ruling. A spokesperson for the company said the figures showed that families believe that the ruling means that they could appeal a potential fine. According to term time family bookings made so far, the most popular times are the first week of July or the last week of September.
Other research by Cheapflights.co.uk found that families could save around 45% if they travel during term time. The website is advertising flights to the Canary Islands for September for £204, compared to £374 in August. For families that don’t wish to travel outside of term time, there are still ways that you can cut the cost of your flights. According to travel experts, Tuesdays are the best days to book, and the cheapest flights are promoted around 50 days before departure; the most expensive three days before departure. The time that the flight departs can also affect the cost- morning flights are most expensive, travel between 6pm and midnight is usually cheapest. Lastly, the day of travel can make a difference. Friday is the most expensive day, due to increased demand as people try to escape abroad for the weekend.
What happened at the High Court ruling?
Jon Platt, the father who refused to pay the fine, won the support of two judges after he argued that the 93% attendance record of his child meant that she met attendance laws, which dictate a child must attend school ‘regularly’. Furthermore, he said that a seven day absence for a holiday does not count as failing to attend school regularly.
What do the rules currently state?
Until 2013, schools were allowed to authorise an absence of up to 10 days for a family holiday in ‘special circumstances’. However, for the last three years, parents who take their kids out of school without permission can receive fines of £60 per pupil, rising to £120 if it isn’t paid within 21 days.
