Dad warned over school absence to attend show

Mr Wilkinson has attended the show since he was a child and said it was an opportunity to learn about the countryside

A father who received a penalty warning for taking his sons out of school to visit the Lincolnshire Show said he wants the council to change the policy.

Chris Wilkinson, 55, received a fixed penalty warning and was told he could be fined up to £120 for taking his two sons out of their school in Louth for the day.

"The council shouldn't be thinking about fines. They should be thinking about subsidising children going so that more children can learn about the countryside," he said.

Lincolnshire County Council said schools were "advised to record absences as unauthorised unless they fall under exceptional circumstances".

The Lincolnshire Show celebrates rural life in the county and is known for its livestock and equine competitions

The Department for Education (DfE) says it is the responsibility of the local authority to decide when to issue fines to parents, meaning the process varies from council to council.

However, under national rules introduced in August 2024, all schools are required to consider a fine when a child has missed 10 or more sessions (five days) for unauthorised reasons.

According to DfE guidelines issued in August 2024:

• Schools must consider fines if a child misses five or more days unauthorised

• Fines cost £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days

• If a parent gets a second fine for the same child in three years, it costs £160 immediately

• For a third unauthorised absence, other action like prosecution is considered. A court appearance could result in a fine of up to £2,500

The DfE says money from fines goes to the local authority.

Mr Wilkinson, who first attended the show as a child nearly 50 years ago, said the warning, which was recorded as an unauthorised absence, "came out of the blue".

"The Lincolnshire Show when I was a boy was something kids went to and it wasn't an issue at school," he said.

"They used to alter their schooling around the two days for the Lincolnshire Show.

"It is a big event. It is a day when Lincolnshire is celebrated. I can teach the kids on a one-to-one basis about the countryside."

Mr Wilkinson said he knew of other parents who received warning letters.

"Having to pay £75 for a family ticket to the show and then have this worry looming over you of a possible fine... does act as a deterrent," he said.

"People can't afford that and it's a time that [the council] could make special so that people can go visit the show."

Matthew Clayton, head of education support at the county council, said: "While schools retain some discretion when marking registers, they are advised to record absences as unauthorised unless they fall under 'exceptional circumstances'.

"Schools will promote and remind parents of the attendance procedures and ways to manage them as part of their approach to improving attendance and reducing persistent absence."

The Lincolnshire Show, which celebrated its 140th year last week, is a flagship event that celebrates the county's rural life and produce.

The BBC has contacted North Cockerington Church of England Primary School for comment.

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