Wales schools: Over 2,000 pupil absence fines for parents

Ebony Mullen feels for parents who cannot afford holidays during the school breaks

More than 2,000 fines were issued to parents in Wales last year because their children were missing school.

Some councils used hundreds of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) to tackle absences, although others did not issue any, figures showed.

One mum, Ebony Mullen from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, said schools should be flexible as some parents could only afford holidays during term time.

Welsh government guidance said fines should only be used as a last resort.

Most councils stopped using FPNs altogether over the Covid pandemic and numbers are still lower than in 2018-19. That is despite concern absences are at "crisis" levels.

In the 2022-23 academic year, the number of fines issued by different local authorities ranged from zero to 481, according to figures obtained through freedom of information requests.

The overall total was at least 40% lower than the figure for 2018-19 - the last full year before the pandemic.

In 2018-19 there were at least 3,700 FPNs, with some councils saying figures were not available.

Their use was discouraged by the Welsh government when the pandemic hit, because of school closures and other disruption caused by Covid.

But in May 2022, Education Minister Jeremy Miles signalled that local authorities and schools could use them again in "extreme cases".

FPNs for non-attendance are £60 rising to £120 if they are not paid within 28 days.

How are councils using fines?

The data suggests that you are more likely to get a fine in some areas of Wales than others.

Three councils - Bridgend, Monmouthshire and Carmarthenshire - have not issued any fixed penalty notices for non-attendance since 2020.

• One in six secondary pupils regularly miss school

• Truancy fines for parents to return in Wales

• Big jump in school absence following the pandemic

Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf made most use of FPNs in 2022-23.

Merthyr council said it issued 285 fines for holidays during term time and 196 for other unauthorised absence.

Rhondda Cynon Taf issued 364 fines, with 157 withdrawn prior to payment.

Cardiff saw a big drop in FPNs from 1,203 in 2018-19 to 235 in 2022-23.

A council spokesperson said the focus in Cardiff post-pandemic had been providing specialist support "so that pupils and their families can access help and advice on all matters relating to school attendance".

What do parents think of fines?

Ms Mullen, who has two young boys in school, said some parents did not have a choice if they wanted to take children on holiday.

"I don't think we should be able to take them out whenever we want, but it should be more flexible," she said.

"We shouldn't be penalised for taking our kids out of school, especially with cost of living and the prices of holidays at the minute, especially in term time, it's very expensive".

Bethan thinks fines can work in certain circumstances

Mum of one Bethan, from Pontypridd, felt there may be a case for fines "as a last resort" when children were absent on a regular basis.

"I think if children are continually being absent from school and that the teachers have tried communicating with those parents, then that is a clear deterrent," she said.

"I think in certain circumstances, yes, I think it can work".

When are Fixed Penalty Notices given for missing school?

The latest Welsh government guidance said fines should only be used as a last resort "when all efforts to engage the family have been tried and failed in having an impact."

It said a warning should be given in the first instance and schools and councils should consider whether a fine will be effective in getting a child back to class.

Merthyr Tydfil council said its policy was different for holiday absence and unauthorised absence.

It said holiday absence incurred a fine "with immediate effect", while the council's Education Welfare Service issue a warning letter and set out a timetable for parents before an FPN is issued for repeated absences.

Mary Van den Heuvel, from the National Education Union Cymru, said fixed penalty notices were not the best way to address the problem.

She said schools needed support for additional learning needs and mental health provision.

"Fining children and their families is not going to be the best way to get them back in the classroom", she said.

"We know that children eligible for free school meals are more likely to have reduced attendance so fining those families in a cost of living crisis doesn't seem like the best way forward in terms of support".

What happens if parents are prosecuted?

As well as FPNs, parents can be prosecuted if they do not pay the fines or if there has been a pattern of non-attendance.

In 2022-23 there were about 700 prosecutions related to school absences in Wales.

There were more than 1,000 in 2018-19.

Where councils gave details, they showed that most prosecutions resulted in further fines for parents and court costs.

Caerphilly said its 72 prosecutions in 2018-19 led to fines in 71 cases and one parent was given 40 hours of unpaid work.

Of the 33 cases in 2022-23, 30 were fined and cases against three were dismissed.

Prosecutions in Ceredigion over the past five years led to fines of £80 to £1,081 and a 12 month conditional discharge.

Of the 30 FPNs issued in Wrexham in 2022-23, 20 were unpaid leading to prosecutions.

Though it did not issue any FPNs, Carmarthenshire prosecuted eight parents for non-attendance.

Many prosecutions do not end up in open court but are dealt with by a magistrate, without the parent having to attend in person.

• THE POWER OF WALES: How is Wales leading the way in sustainable power?

• DEATH OF A CODEBREAKER: The man found naked and dead inside a bag