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Our Research Into Unauthorised Pupil Absence Fines
As families prepare to jet off for summer holidays, some will have already been and returned.
It’s no secret that holidays during schools are often considerably cheaper, leading some parents to take their children out of school with an ‘unauthorised absence.’
However, doing so will likely result in parents being hit with a hefty fine or even further action if it’s left unpaid.
What’s more, this August 2024, will see the first rise in unauthorised pupil absence fines since 2012.
Parents who flout the rules of term-time holidays could be hit with hefty fines of up to £160 if they take their child out of school for a term-time holiday from this summer.
As it stands, unauthorised absences can see parents issued with a £60 fine which increases to £120 per child if it is not paid within 21 days with a potential for prosecution for non-payment of 28 days.
Whether or not a fine is issued or an alternative course of action is action is often dependent on the school and council area.
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How We Conducted Our Research Into Unauthorised Pupil Absence Fines
Following a number of inquiries from parents seeking clarification of the law and rules around unauthorised absences in their district, Legal Expert set out to investigate which councils are issuing fines to parents.
We sent out Freedom of Information Requests to every Metropolitan and Unitary Council in England asking for the number of the fines for unauthorised pupil absences that have been issued in the last three years as well as the total sum.
We also asked, for the number of fines that were not paid within 21 days. Furthermore, LegalExpert enquired about any further action taken by the council following an unpaid fine.
Further action for unpaid fines could include; an Education Supervision Order, Community Order or even a Jail Order.
In some instances, council’s referred us to the Government’s Parental Responsibility Measures Report for their latest statistics on fines issued. Where this was the case, we analysed the data accordingly. Any data collated from the these statistics are marked ‘Gov’.
Out of all 98 Metropolitan and Unitary Councils, 76% responded within the deadline.
See your local council’s statistics below:
Statistics On Unauthorised Pupil Absence Fines By Area
Jump to:
National Statistics
Unauthorised Pupil Absences
Metropolitan Councils
Barnsley Borough Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 1780 | £84,190.00
2022/23: 3126 | £141,300.05
2023/24: 3996 | £159.060.00
Increase of 124% between 2021/22 and 2023/24.
Total: 8902 | £225,490.05
No. not paid in 21 days: 1,822 (46%)
Further action: 1,060
Greater Manchester
Bury Council
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – Bury Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 826 | £42,360
2022/23: 1,866 | £89,520
2023/ June 24: 1,865 | £76,380
Increase of 126% between 2021/22 and 2023/24.
Total: 4557| £208,260
No. not paid in 21 days: 1,682 (37%)
Further action: 867
Rochdale Borough Council
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – Rochdale
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 574 | £8,280
2022/23: 3500 | £63,900
2023/24: 5250 | £229,860
Increase of 815% between 2021/22 and 2023/24.
Total: 9324| £302,040
No. not paid in 21 days: 902 (10%)
Further action: 407
Tameside Borough Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 1469 | £74,220
2022/23: 3670 | £188,940
2023/24: 3825 | £204,300
Increase of 175% between 2021/22 and 2023/24.
Total: 8964 | £467,460
No. not paid in 21 days: 418 (5%)
Further action: 0
Bolton Borough Council
2021/22: 3058 | £183,480
2022/23: 6657 | £399,420
2023/24: 7399 | £443,940
Increase of 141% between 2021/22 and 2023/24.
Total: 17114 | £1,026,840
No. not paid in 21 days: 587
Further action: 1784 referred for prosecution
Bury Borough Council
Penalty Notices Issued
2021/22: 826
2022/23: 1,866
Prosecutions following non-payment of a penalty notice
2021/22: 26
2022/23: 72
Manchester City Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 2362 | £93,198
2022/23: 9067| £484,707
2023/24: 9272 | £466,707
Increase of 293% between 2021/22 and 2023/24
Total: 20701 | £1,044,612
No. not paid in 21 days: 4562 (22%)
Further action: 2161 sent for prosecution
Oldham Borough Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 3348 | £87,005
2022/23: 4993| £237,005
2023/24: 6621 | £287,086
Increase of 98% between 2021/22 and 2023/24
Total: 14962 | £611,096
Salford City Council
Penalty Notices Issued
2021/22: 2,225
2022/23: 3,403
Increase of 53%
Prosecutions following non-payment of a penalty notice
2021/22: 55
2022/23: 167
Stockport
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – Stockport
2021/22: 807 | £48,420
2022/23: 1,713 | £102,780
2023/ June 24: 1,368| £82,080
Increase of 112% between 2021/22 and 2022/23.
Total: 3,888 | £233,280
No. not paid in 21 days: 565
Further Action (Prosecution in Magistrates Court under section 444(1) Education Act): 592
Trafford
Penalty Notices Issued
2021/22: 663
2022/23: 1,041
Increase 57%
Prosecutions following non-payment of a penalty notice
2021/22: 2
2022/23: 0
Wigan
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – Wigan
2021/22: 191 | £7,080
2022/23: 653| £31,440
2023/ June 24: 560| £28,140
Increase of 242% between 2021/22 and 2022/23.
Total: 1,404 | £60,660
No. not paid in 21 days: 351
Further Action (Prosecution in Magistrates Court under section 444(1) Education Act): 108
Merseyside
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – Merseyside
Liverpool City Council
Penalty Notices Issued
2021/22: 1,714
2022/23: 4,271
Prosecutions following non-payment of a penalty notice
2021/22: 94
2022/23: 363
Sefton Borough Council
Penalty Notices Issued
2021/22: 1,878
2022/23: 1,692
Prosecutions following non-payment of a penalty notice
2021/22: 168
2022/23: 98
Knowsley Borough Council
Penalty Notices Issued
2021/22: 174
2022/23: 464
Prosecutions following non-payment of a penalty notice
2021/22: 20
2022/23: 72
St. Helen’s Borough Council
Penalty Notices Issued
2021/22: 285
2022/23: 308
Increase of 8%
Prosecutions following non-payment of a penalty notice
2021/22: 53
2022/23: 38
Wirral Borough Council
Penalty Notices Issued
2021/22: 1,639
2022/23: 2,791
Increase of 70%
Prosecutions following non-payment of a penalty notice
2021/22: 116
North East Councils
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – North East
Durham County Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 1,023 | £10,860
2022/23: 1,517| £70,170
2023/24: 1,701| £91,118
Increase of 739% between 2021/22 and 2023/24
Total: 4,241 | £172,148
No. not paid in 21 days: 848 (20%)
Further action: 696 sent for prosecution
Newcastle Upon Tyne City Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 26 | £1,560
2022/23: 127| £7,620
2023/24: 254| £15,240
Increase of 877% between 2021/22 and 2023/24
Total: 407 | £24,420
No. not paid in 21 days: 344 (85%)
Further action: 144 sent for prosecution
Northumberland County Council
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – Northumberland
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 200 | £8,280
2022/23: 933| £42,120
2023/24: 1,222| £49,800
Increase of 511% between 2021/22 and 2023/24
Total: 2355 | £100,200
No. not paid in 21 days: 140 (6%)
Further action: 189 sent for prosecution
South Tyneside Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 1,286 | £55,560
2022/23: 1,904 | £88,620
2023/24: 1,822 | £71,080
Increase of 48% between 2021/22 and 2022/23
Total: 5012 | £215,260
No. not paid in 21 days: 173
Further action: 914 Proceeded to court
Darlington Borough Council
Penalty Notices Issued
2021/22: 752
2022/23: 932
Increase of 24%
Prosecutions following non-payment of a penalty notice
2021/22: 84
2022/23: 82
Gateshead Borough Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 186 | £960
2022/23: 325 | £10,680
2023/24: 323| £19,800
Increase of 74% between 2021/22 and 2022/23
Total: 834 | £31,440
Further action: 103 Prosecution following no payment
Hartlepool Borough Council
Penalty Notices Issued
2021/22: 128
2022/23: 185
Increase of 45%
Prosecutions following non-payment of a penalty notice
2021/22: 30
2022/23: 37
Middlesborough Borough Council
Penalty Notices Issued
2021/22: 904
2022/23: 2,026
Increase of 124%
Prosecutions following non-payment of a penalty notice
2021/22: 154
2022/23: 369
North Tyneside Borough Council
Penalty Notices Issued
2021/22: 575
2022/23: 731
Increase of 27%
Prosecutions following non-payment of a penalty notice
2021/22: 21
2022/23: 17
Stockton-On-Tees Borough Council
Penalty Notices Issued
2021/22: 1,490
2022/23: 2,293
Increase of 54%
Prosecutions following non-payment of a penalty notice
2021/22: 55
2022/23: 24
Sunderland City Council
Penalty Notices Issued
2021/22: 339
2022/23: 274
Prosecutions following non-payment of a penalty notice
2021/22: 89
South Yorkshire Councils
Barnsley Borough Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 1780 | £84,190.00
2022/23: 3126 | £141,300.05
2023/24: 3996 | £159.060.00
Increase of 124% between 2021/22 and 2023/24.
Total: 8902 | £225,490.05
No. not paid in 21 days: 1,822 (46%)
Further action: 1,060
Doncaster Borough Council
Penalty Notices Issued
2021/22: 2,637
2022/23: 6,779
Increase of 157%
Prosecutions following non-payment of a penalty notice
2021/22: 180
2022/23: 187
Rotherham Borough Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 803 | £23,766
2022/23: 2,684 | £111,733
2023/24: 2,803 | £180,934
Increase of 249% between 2021/22 and 2023/24
Total: 6290 | £316,433
No. not paid in 21 days: 947 (15%)
Further action: 149 Prosecutions following non-payment of penalty fines
Sheffield City Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 3387 | £186,480
2022/23: 4248 | £235,860
2023/24: 2840 | £154,860
Increase of 25% between 2021/22 and 2022/23
Total: 10475 | £577,200
No. not paid in 21 days: 1210 (12%)
Further action: 0
West Yorkshire Councils
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – West Yorkshire
Bradford City Council
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – Bradford
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 3425 | £205,500
2022/23: 11960 | £368,261
2023/24: 12634 | £341,146
Increase of 269% between 2021/22 and 2023/24.
Total: 28019 | £914,907
No. not paid in 21 days: 5204 (19%)
Further action: 0
Calderdale Borough Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 1672 | £51,300
2022/23: 2457 | £143,720
2023/24: 2529 | £102,850
Increase of 51% between 2021/22 and 2023/24
Total: 6658 | £297,870
No. not paid in 21 days: 350
Further Action: 585 Fined
Coventry City Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 2,303 | £97,335
2022/23: 4,092 | £184,467
2023/24: 3,753 | £174,530
Increase of 78% between 2021/22 and 2022/23
Total: 10,148 | £456,332
No. not paid in 21 days: 559 (19%)
Kirklees Borough Council
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – Kirklees
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 1500 | £84,920
2022/23: 4378 | £253,200
2023/24: 5805| £328,201
Increase of 287% between 2021/22 and 2022/23
Total: 11683 | £666,321
No. not paid in 21 days: 1779 (15%)
Further action: 532 Court Fines
Leeds City Council
Penalty Notices Issued
2021/22: 5,192
2022/23: 7,046
Increase of 36%
Prosecutions following non-payment of a penalty notice
2021/22: 230
2022/23: 188
Wakefield City Council
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – Wakefield
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 1776 | £106,500
2022/23: 5661 | £339,660
2023/24: 7512 | £450,720
Increase of 323% between 2021/22 and 2023/24
Total: 14949 | £896,880
No. not paid in 21 days: 3861 (26%)
Further action: 0
York (City of Council)
Penalty Notices Issued
2021/22: 381
2022/23: 1,126
Prosecutions following non-payment of a penalty notice
2021/22: 2
2022/23: 5
Increase of 196% in number of fines issued.
Sandwell Borough Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 956 | £50,280
2022/23: 2718 | £148,500
2023/24: 3538 | £164,699
Increase of 270% between 2021/22 and 2023/24
Total: 7212 | £363,479
No. not paid in 21 days: 982 (14%)
Further action: 0
Wolverhampton (City of) Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 1102 | £26,414.00
2022/23: 2521 | £101,863.00
2023/24: 2354 | £145,980
Increase of 114% between 2021/22 and 2023/24
Total: 5977 | £274,257.00
No. not paid in 21 days: 295 (5%)
Further action: 295 Prosecutions following non-payment of penalty fines
Walsall Borough Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 813 | £48,780.00
2022/23: 1,740 | £104,400.00
2023/24: 4,088 | £245,280.00
Increase of 403% between 2021/22 and 2023/24
Total: 6641 | £398,460.00
No. not paid in 21 days: 636 (10%)
Further action: 137 Prosecutions following non-payment of penalty fines
Unitary Authorities
Blackpool Council
Blackpool Council has issued £486K worth of fines to parents for unauthorised pupil absences since 2021 with figures rising year on year.
Our investigation revealed a 56% rise in the number of fines issued to Blackpool parents in the last three years with £190,680 worth of fines handed out in a 12-month-period.
Between 2021/22, 960 penalty notices were issued to parents for unauthorised absences, rising to 1,589 the following year.
This year so far, 1,498 fines have been issued totalling £179,760 – LegalExpert has found.
Parents who don’t pay the fine in time, can be subjected to further action which could include an Education Supervision Order, Community Order or even a Jail Order.
In Blackpool, there have been 540 non-paid fines that resulted in further action in the last three years.
Between 2021/22, 107 unpaid penalties had further consequences, rising to 245 the following year. So far this academic year, 188 non-paid fines have resulted in further action.
Bath and North East Somerset Council
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – Bath and North East Somerset
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 551 | £27,360
2022/23: 719 | £39,720
2023/24: 974 | £46,020
Increase of 77% between 2021/22 and 2023/24.
Total: 2244 | £113,100
No. not paid in 21 days: 392 (17%)
Further action: 173 Not paid and preparation for legal action via the courts
Bedford Borough Council
No. of Fines Issued
2021/22: 438 (Gov.)
2022/23: 432 (Gov.)
Value of Fines Issued
2021/22: £14,880
2022/23: £27,300
2023/24: £54,060
Total Amount: £96,240
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 1737 | £37,785
2022/23: 2782 | £126,520
2023/24: 2583 | £153,709
Increase of 49% between 2021/22 and 2023/24.
Total: 7102 | £318,014
No. not paid in 21 days: 710 (10%)
Further action: 445
Brighton and Hove City Council
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – Brighton & Hove
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 755 | £58,320
2022/23: 1,948 | £143,280
2023/24: 2,522 | £185,820
Increase of 234% between 2021/22 and 2023/24.
Total: 5225 | £387,420
No. not paid in 21 days: 1233 (24%)
Further action: 101
Buckinghamshire Council
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – Buckinghamshire
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 797 | £47,820
2022/23: 1,412 | £84,720
2023/24: 2,126 | £127,560
Increase of 167% between 2021/22 and 2023/24.
Total: 4335 | £260,100
No. not paid in 21 days: 856 (20%)
Further action: 31
Cheshire East Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 1167 | £48,660
2022/23: 1366 | £50,600
2023/24: 1945 | £87,960
Increase of 81% between 2021/22 and 2023/24.
Total: 4478 | £187,220
No. not paid in 21 days: 1384 (31%)
Further action: 0
Dorset Council
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – Dorset
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 146 | £5,040.00
2022/23: 1380 | £44,220.00
2023/24: 2177 | £93,180.00
Increase of 1391% between 2021/22 and 2023/24
Total: 3703 | £142,440.00
No. not paid in 21 days: 30
Further action: 0
East Riding Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 1623 | £77,940
2022/23: 3496 | £82,560
2023/24: 2506 | £101,880
Increase of 115% between 2021/22 and 2022/23
Total: 7625 | £262,380
No. not paid in 21 days: 1174 (15%)
Further action: 30 Magistraties Court, Fine
Halton Borough Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 751 | £12,180
2022/23: 924 | £35,040
2023/24: 432 | £33,480
Increase of 23% between 2021/22 and 2022/23
Total: 2107 | £80,700
No. not paid in 21 days: 906 (43%)
Further action: 534 (Sent to EWS [Education Welfare System] for Prosecution)
Hull City Council
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – Hull
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 1,572 | £52,470
2022/23: 2,424| £87,660
2023/24: 2,542 | £100,800
Increase of 62% between 2021/22 and 2023/24
Total: 6,538 | £240,930
No. not paid in 21 days: 2444 (37%)
Further Action: 1413
Leicester City Council
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – Leicester
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 1228 | £65,700.00
2022/23: 6052| £355,290.00
2023/24: 6256 | £365,880.00
Increase of 409% between 2021/22 and 2023/24
Total: 13536 | £786,870.00
No. not paid in 21 days: 1171 (9%)
Further Action: 0
Medway Council
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – Medway
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 1,740| £83,040
2022/23: 3419| £163,860
2023/24: 2563| £97,320
Increase of 96% between 2021/22 and 2022/23
Total: 7,722| £344,220
No. not paid in 21 days: 1165 (15%)
Further Action: 294 cases referred to court
Peterborough City Council
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – Peterborough
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 1,483 | £71,340
2022/23: 3,545| £179,480
2023/24: 4,220 | £209,880
Increase of 185% between 2021/22 and 2023/24
Total: 9,248 | £460,700
No. not paid in 21 days: 289
Further Action: 791
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 1,237 | £74,220
2022/23: 2,096| £125,760
2023/24: 1,583 | £94,980
Increase of 69% between 2021/22 and 2022/23
Total: 4916 | £294,960
No. not paid in 21 days: 879 (18%)
Further Action: 394 Prosecuted
Reading Borough Council
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – Reading
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 402 | £21,480
2022/23: 739 | £39,380
2023/24: 607 | £30,840
Increase of 84% between 2021/22 and 2022/23.
Total: 1749| £91,700
No. not paid in 21 days: 332 (19%)
Further Action: 15 Prosecutions
Redcar and Cleveland Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 442 | £12,940.90
2022/23: 1097 | £46,485.00
2023/24: 1294 | £65,584.00
Increase of 407% between 2021/22 and 2023/24.
Total: 2833 | £125,009.90
No. not paid in 21 days: 20
Further Action: 167 Fined and 28 Conditional Discharge
Somerset Council
No. of Fines Issued
2021/22: 879
2022/23: 1799
Increase of 105%
Prosecutions following non-payment of a penalty notice
2021/22: 59
2022/23: 64
Slough Borough Council
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – Slough
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 1407 | £60,780
2022/23: 1753 | £90,000
2023/24: 1641 | £86,000
Increase of 48% between 2021/22 and 2022/23
Total: 4801 | £236,780
No. not paid in 21 days: 381+ (*Data for 2021/22 not available due to ‘change in recording and reporting functions)
Further Action: 1
Thurrock Council
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – Thurrock Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 1008 | £120,960
2022/23: 1751 | £210,120
2023/24: 1496 | £179,520
Increase of 48% between 2021/22 and 2023/24.
Total: 4255 | £510,600
No. not paid in 21 days: 410 (10%)
Further Action: Conditional Discharge (30), Prosecutions for non payment (84)
Torbay Council
Unauthorised Pupil Absences – Torbay Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 234 | £7,200
2022/23: 584 | £28,440
2023/24: 756 | £31,380
Increase of 223% between 2021/22 and 2023/24.
Total: 1574 | £67,020
No. not paid in 21 days: 98 (6%)
Further Action: 218 Prosecutions for unpaid fines
West Northamptonshire Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 395 | £31,080
2022/23: 1492 | £120,780
2023/24: 1427 | £114,960
Increase of 261% between 2021/22 and 2023/24
Total: 3314 | £266,820
No. not paid in 21 days: 2252 (68%)
Wokingham Council
No. of Fines Issued | Amount
2021/22: 303 | £17,040
2022/23: 1172 | £64,440
2023/24: 1315 | £74,160
Increase of 334% between 2021/22 and 2023/24
Total: 2790 | £155,640
No. not paid in 21 days: 37
Further Action: 41
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