Fines of more than £240,000 were issued to Hertfordshire parents who took their children out of school for term-time holidays last year – more than double the total from the previous year.
With the cost of holidays, accommodation and flights rising sharply during school breaks, many families are opting for cheaper term-time trips – even though it means their children missing lessons.
However, following a change in national guidance, more parents in Hertfordshire are being issued with fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for taking term-time breaks – and the fines themselves have increased.
Since August 2024, FPNs are triggered when a child records 10 unauthorised half-day absences. Previously, parents could take their children out of school for up to a week’s holiday before facing a fine, as the threshold was 15 half-days.
Data obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service shows that in Hertfordshire, the number of FPNs issued rose by 123%, from 1,292 in 2023-24 to 2,887 in 2024-25.
The total value of those fines more than doubled too, rising by 127% from £106,420 to £241,440.
The fine for a first offence is now £80 per parent per child – £20 higher than the previous year. For a second offence within any three-year period, the fine increases to £160 per parent per child.
A spokesperson for Hertfordshire County Council, the local education authority, said:
“We are sure that the parents of Hertfordshire want the best education for their children.
“By taking family holidays during the school holiday periods, the parents of Hertfordshire will be supporting their children’s full school attendance, learning and development.”
Payments from FPNs are made directly to the county council. According to Government guidance, all revenues must be ring-fenced for attendance – first to cover administration of the penalty notice scheme and prosecutions, and then to support attendance measures.
Deborah is a Local Democracy Reporter covering news across Hertfordshire, with a strong focus on councils, local government and public policy. Her reporting includes county council decisions, council tax, spending pressures, legal and regulatory issues, healthcare stories including junior doctors, and community projects affecting local residents.
