Ealing among London’s naughtiest boroughs for unauthorized school holidays

Image: Children on vacation; image of the library

Ealing had 1,304 family holiday fines in 2022/23

As the summer holidays approach, many parents are considering taking their children out of school early or delaying their return to secure cheaper flights for a summer getaway. Rather than pay the often prohibitively expensive early summer travel costs, some parents opt to absorb the fines imposed by local councils for unauthorized absences.

Recent data from the Department for Education on unauthorized school holidays in London reveals the boroughs with the highest rates of school absences ahead of the summer holidays. Certain areas have a significantly higher number of penalty notices issued for unauthorized absences and family holidays.

Ealing is the seventh highest borough for total penalty notices, with 2,639 issued in 2022/23. These include 1,335 notices for unauthorized absences and 1,304 for family holidays.

In contrast, Hounslow comes in eleventh with 857 penalty notices, comprising 632 for unauthorized absences and 225 for family holidays.

Notably, Redbridge tops the list with a staggering 8,811 penalty notices, outstripping all other boroughs. This includes 4,451 notices for general unauthorized absences and 4,360 specifically for unauthorized family holidays. Havering followed with 7,514 notices, including 3,861 for unauthorized absences and 3,653 for family holidays.

The boroughs with the fewest penalty notices are Greenwich, with 101 notices for unauthorized absences and none for family vacations, and Richmond, with 280 notices, including 187 for unauthorized absences and 93 for family vacations.

Image: A plane flying over Heathrow Airport

What are the cheapest summer holiday dates?

Parents of children in English state schools (private schools are exempt) face difficulties in obtaining permission for the term holidays. Unauthorized absences can result in a fine of £80 per parent per child.

Schools used to have the freedom to allow up to 10 days of holiday each year in “special circumstances”. However, the rules were tightened in September 2013 – now head teachers at state schools in England can only grant leave for term-time absences in “exceptional circumstances”.

Under rules that came into force earlier this year, initial penalty notices have been increased from £60 to £80 if paid within 21 days. Late payers will have fines increased from £120 to £160.

The consumer watchdog Which? We found the most expensive weeks to book a package holiday to be between 27th July and 3rd August and 3rd August and 10th August, just after most English schools close. It is, on average, £123 cheaper per person to book a package break in the last week of your summer holiday than in the first week.

The cheapest week for a summer holiday package is the final week, from 24 to 31 August, when most children are still out of school.

Image: Cllr Samia Chaudhary

Hounslow ‘delighted’ by fewer unauthorized absences

Cllr Samia Chaudhary, cabinet member for education, children, skills and employment at Hounslow Council, commented:

“We are delighted that schools and parents in Hounslow understand the importance of school attendance, leading to fewer unauthorized absences in 2022/23 compared to 12 of the other 19 London councils that shared their data with the Department for Education.”

Ealing Council has been contacted for comment but has not yet responded.

Breaking down the naughty list

Below is the detailed ranking of London boroughs based on total penalty notices issued for unauthorized absences:

1. Redbridge: 8,811 (UA: 4,451, Family Holidays: 4,360)
2. Wealth: 7,514 (UA: 3,861, Family Holidays: 3,653)
3. Barking and Dagenham: 5,116 (UA: 2,705, Family Holidays: 2,411)
4. Barnet: 3,530 (UA: 1,832, Family Holidays: 1,698)
5. Harrow: 3,313 (UA: 1,718, Family Holidays: 1,595)
6. Waltham Forest: 3,057 (UA: 1,880, Family Holidays: 1,177)
7. Ealing: 2,639 (UA: 1,335, Family Holidays: 1,304)
8. Croydon: 2,458 (UA: 1,264, Family Holidays: 1,194)
9. Bromley: 1,439 (UA: 773, Family Holidays: 666)
10. Hillingdon: 1,294 (UA: 700, Family Holidays: 594)
11. Hounslow: 857 (UA: 632, Family Holidays: 225)
12. Enfield: 735 (UA: 381, Family Holidays: 354)
13. Bexley: 704 (UA: 361, Family Holidays: 343)
14. Sutton: 591 (UA: 378, Family Holidays: 213)
15. Brent: 424 (UA: 218, Family Holidays: 206)
16. Merton: 376 (UA: 217, Family Holidays: 159)
17. Kingston upon Thames: 228 (UA: 118, Family Holidays: 110)
18. Richmond upon Thames: 187 (UA: 94, Family Holidays: 93)
19. Greenwich: 101 (UA: 101, Family Holidays: 0)