School absence fines hit record high as Harrow mirrors national trend

England has recorded another surge in term-time school holiday fines, as cheaper off-peak travel continues to attract families, particularly those on low incomes or with larger households.
New figures from the Department for Education show a record 459,288 penalty notices were issued in 2024–25 for unauthorised absence, up 4% on the previous year. Term-time holidays accounted for 93% of all fines, underlining the scale of the issue despite tougher enforcement. It is the first full year of data since the national framework introduced in 2024, which increased fines from £60 to £80 per parent, per child, rising to £160 if unpaid within 21 days.
The financial incentive remains strong. Families can save thousands of pounds by travelling during school term time rather than peak holiday periods, making cheaper packages particularly attractive to those with limited incomes or bigger families. Education leaders, however, warn that these savings can come at a cost to pupils’ learning, wellbeing and reintegration into the classroom.
At a local level, Harrow reflects the national picture. The number of term-time holiday fines in the borough rose from almost none in 2020–21 to around 2,000 in 2024–25, significantly more than the neighbouring boroughs. Under Department for Education guidance issued in August 2024, money raised from fines is paid directly to the local authority.
Harrow schools and the council operate an Attendance Intervention Model, updated in 2024, aimed at identifying and addressing attendance concerns before penalty notices are issued, in line with wider national practice.
Nationally, teachers and school leaders acknowledge the financial pressures driving term-time travel but question whether fines are effective, particularly for families already struggling. While the government maintains that fines “have a vital place” in protecting attendance and preventing disruption to whole classes, unions and head teachers argue that missed learning, mental health support, transport difficulties and wider family pressures require more nuanced solutions.
Despite higher penalties and the risk of prosecution for repeat offences, the continued rise in fines, including in Harrow, suggests that for many families, the affordability of term-time holidays still outweighs the deterrent effect of enforcement.