Should This Dad Have Been Fined?

The parents can argue their case but the school can fine them for not seeking prior authorised leave.

Funny they wasn't saying that when teachers was on strike

It has always been one rule for school and one for the parent. I had so many disagreements when my children were at school but the head mistress was ‘always right’. So glad my children have all finished with schools.

It seems both were at fault as it was an unauthorised absence, but dad is quite right he probably learned more from that day and it is good for kids to learn about their ancestors sacrifices.

It is absolutely pathetic we have just been on a day family trip that was planned as a treat following open heart surgery over 12 months ago as something to look forward to and it has been put down as unauthorised absence despite sending my sons headmaster a nicely worded email explaining the circumstances. That is me done with that school now they can f*ck off....didn't even reply to my email

Did they inform the school that they would be taking their child on an educational trip for D-Day and did they get a response? Were there exams to be taken? I think that these would be the clincher in this story. They can always appeal it.

Seeing as it was unauthorised, yes he should be fined.

It's one day teaching a young person something very valuable.Hardly a fortnight on the Algarve. A fine is ridiculous.

I do think it's unfair as you never get a fine at home time.

I think it's unfair. When I went to school and if I missed a day or two they used to send a truant officer to your home to find out why I hadn't been to school. It's these last couple of years that parents are taking their children out in school term because holiday companies put there prices up when they have school holidays.

No that was not fair by the school but the father could have avoided the fine by getting consent permission from the school in advance explaining his reasons even when this historic event will be well known in schools especially when it's all over the news.

They should let this fine go as an exceptional circumstances and issue advice to inform the school in advance next time

I don’t agree with the dad being fined, regardless of the reason behind the absence there is a national policy on absence however not every school actually follows this in the same way. Headteacher’s technically have the power to say yes or no on a case by case basis, however some schools follow this process whilst others like my daughters school say no to pretty much everything without really considering the reasoning behind it. Until this policy is implemented fairly in all schools across the country there will always be issues for some & not for others which is unfair, regardless of giving the school advanced notice or not. If the dad had followed all the procedures correctly he would probably of still been told no yet the child will have actually had a valuable life/history lesson from going which could never be replicated in a classroom.