More parents take kids out of school to save on holidays

The number of days Scots children have missed from school to go on holiday has nearly doubled in the last decade.

New figures show a total of 623,246 school days were lost at primaries and secondaries last year due to unauthorised holidays, up from 343,842 in 2003/04. The 81% increase comes as cash-strapped families face paying up to four times as much for a summer break as they would for a term-time getaway.

The inflated cost of going on holiday outwith term time, coupled with the economic slump of the last few years, is thought to be behind the soaring number of parents willing to let their youngsters miss days at school.

A spokeswoman for the National Parent Forum of Scotland said: “We all know how important family time is, particularly when money is short. But we’d encourage parents to avoid taking their children out of school during term time, as it does impact on their learning.

“It would be helpful if holiday companies did not increase their prices so much during school holidays.

“It’s worth discussing your situation with your school, and asking for authorisation. Schools can authorise absences for particular circumstances and arrangements can then be made to ensure children don’t miss out on school.”

The Scottish Government figures show a total of 418,742 half-days were missed in secondary schools for holidays last year, while a further 827,751 half-days were missed in primaries.

The figures don’t include other reasons for non-attendance, such as sickness or truancy.

Schools in Scotland are discouraged from authorising family holidays during term time except in exceptional circumstances.

It is recorded as unauthorised absence and councils can issue sanctions to parents who flout the rules. These include referral to the children’s panel, the issuing of attendance orders and prosecution.

In England, parents who take their children out of school without permission face fines of up to £100.

The practice is opposed on the grounds that teachers have to spend time making sure pupils have caught up and that it creates a belief that truancy is acceptable.

Scottish Conservative Education spokeswoman Mary Scanlon said: “It is worrying to see such a large increase in days missed due to unauthorised holidays.

“If teachers are spending more time helping pupils catch up on work they have missed due to holidays then the education of other pupils will undoubtedly suffer.

“I can sympathise with parents who have special events taking place during term time, but pupils benefit most from being in the classroom.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The overall rate of attendance in Scottish schools rose from 93.1 to 93.6 in 2012-13. We understand that holiday periods have been a contentious issue for parents but have emphasised the value of learning and the pitfalls of disruption for the pupil, the rest of the class and the teacher in our guidance for schools.

“It is for local authorities to judge how to treat unauthorised absence due to holidays.”