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| Term absence fines soar past 150,000 | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| There were 151,125 penalty notices issued to parents in England for their children's term-time absence from school during 2014-15. | There were 151,125 penalty notices issued to parents in England for their children's term-time absence from school during 2014-15. |
| The figure represents a 54% increase compared with the previous year. | |
| There has been a high-profile legal challenge to whether parents should have to pay fines for taking children on holiday during the school term. | There has been a high-profile legal challenge to whether parents should have to pay fines for taking children on holiday during the school term. |
| A Department for Education spokesman said: "Children should not be taken out of school without good reason." | A Department for Education spokesman said: "Children should not be taken out of school without good reason." |
| The Department for Education figures include parents who have taken their children on term-time holidays - and the figures show that a high proportion of parents paid the penalty fines within 28 days. | The Department for Education figures include parents who have taken their children on term-time holidays - and the figures show that a high proportion of parents paid the penalty fines within 28 days. |
| But there were more than 21,000 cases where parents did not pay and were prosecuted - and in another 17,000 cases the penalties were dropped. | But there were more than 21,000 cases where parents did not pay and were prosecuted - and in another 17,000 cases the penalties were dropped. |
| The figures show how fines for parents have become more common - with almost a fivefold increase in penalties over the past five years. | The figures show how fines for parents have become more common - with almost a fivefold increase in penalties over the past five years. |
| A separate set of figures, based on Freedom of Information requests carried out by the Santander bank, estimate that the fines levied last year amounted to £5.6m. | A separate set of figures, based on Freedom of Information requests carried out by the Santander bank, estimate that the fines levied last year amounted to £5.6m. |
| In May the High Court ruled that a father did not have to pay a £120 fine to Isle of Wight Council after he took his daughter to Florida. | In May the High Court ruled that a father did not have to pay a £120 fine to Isle of Wight Council after he took his daughter to Florida. |
| The court ruled that Jon Platt had no case to answer because, overall, his daughter had attended school regularly. | The court ruled that Jon Platt had no case to answer because, overall, his daughter had attended school regularly. |
| But the council has since been told it can apply to challenge the decision. | But the council has since been told it can apply to challenge the decision. |
| A Department for Education spokesman said: "The rules are perfectly clear - children should not be taken out of school without good reason. | A Department for Education spokesman said: "The rules are perfectly clear - children should not be taken out of school without good reason. |
| "That is why we have tightened the rules and are supporting schools and local authorities to use their powers to tackle unauthorised absence. | "That is why we have tightened the rules and are supporting schools and local authorities to use their powers to tackle unauthorised absence. |
| "The evidence shows that every extra day of school missed can affect a pupil's chances of achieving good GCSEs, which has a lasting effect on their life chances - vindicating our strong stance on attendance. | "The evidence shows that every extra day of school missed can affect a pupil's chances of achieving good GCSEs, which has a lasting effect on their life chances - vindicating our strong stance on attendance. |
| "A child who is absent also impacts teachers, whose planning of lessons is disrupted by children missing large portions of teaching." | "A child who is absent also impacts teachers, whose planning of lessons is disrupted by children missing large portions of teaching." |