My son’s school has given me a fine – they say a FUNERAL is not a valid reason for absence
A WOMAN has spoken out after her son’s school fined her for taking him to a family funeral.
The mother of three explained that she was upset because she had to deal with this problem after her father’s death.
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In a after On Mumsnet, the user shared details of the situation, including the school’s apology for not approving the absence.
“I am so incredibly angry and upset right now,” the unnamed woman wrote.
She explained that she suddenly lost her father, who lived more than 300 miles away from her home.
The woman said the journey to his funeral included a ferry crossing and she would have liked some time to arrange that.
Read more about school fines
She also explained that her family’s culture allows a total of seven days for the funeral.
“I understand that this is not the norm and my children [wouldn’t] “I would have to be there the full seven days,” the poster explained.
She said the service itself would take place on a Thursday.
“I have submitted a leave request for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday because of the trip,” she said.
However, her son’s school rejected her request and informed her that his absence would result in a fine.
“The truancy officer from my son’s school just called and was extremely unpleasant, [they] said it would not be authorized because it is not considered an exceptional circumstance by the school,” she wrote.
“We are being fined £160 because my son had a week off in July for an operation.”
The woman informed the school that she would take her son to his grandfather’s funeral regardless of the fine.
“I also said that it was exceptional circumstances, because you only die once. Maybe not my best moment, but it was the least rude thing I could think of,” she said.
She said her oldest child is in college and she hasn’t heard from her third child’s school yet.
Mumsnet users shared their thoughts on the situation in the comments section.
What school fines can parents receive?
The main issue that can get parents fined is truancy.
Currently, the local council decides whether a parent will be fined if their child misses school.
However, from August this year, the school will be responsible for determining the fine for absence when a child has missed 10 or more lessons for unauthorized reasons.
The fine is £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days. This fine applies to EVERY parent.
It is the first time since 2012 that the fine has been increased, and this is in line with inflation.
If a parent receives a second fine for the same child within three years, they will automatically be charged the higher rate of £160.
The maximum number of fines is two within a three-year period.
If this limit is reached, prosecution or a parenting order may be considered.
According to the official government website, There are only five reasons why your child should be absent from school when school is in session.
These are as follows:
- Your child is too sick to come that day
- You have requested and received prior permission from the school to allow your child to be absent that day due to exceptional circumstances.
- Your child cannot go to school that day because it is a day on which you participate in religious practices.
- Your municipality is responsible for arranging your child’s transport to school and transport is not available on that day or has not yet been provided.
- You are a Gypsy/Travelling family of no fixed abode and you have to travel for work that day, which means your child cannot attend their usual school
“File a complaint to the governors. This is horrible. I am a governor. I would be absolutely freaking out if this happened at my school,” wrote one reader.
“July was medical, so it’s irrelevant. This is three days, so under the fine limit. It doesn’t matter if it’s allowed or not,” another parent pointed out.
“They are being unreasonable and I am considering filing a complaint!” a third person responded.
“Not only because they are wrong, which is indeed exceptional, but also because they are culturally insensitive!”
“I wouldn’t give a shit whether they want to authorise it or not, to be honest, and I wouldn’t pay a fine either. This world is bloody ridiculous!” said another Mumsnet user.
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