Parents are expressing fury as the government wages war on term-time holidays by hiking penalties for families who take children out of class without permission.
Angry families have asked whether teachers could be given similar £80 fines for taking days off on strike, after the new crackdown was announced by Education Secretary Gillian Keegan.
Parents are to face increased fines of £80 if they take their children out of lessons for a family break - a 33 per cent rise from the existing £60 sanction.
There has been a backlash to the plans, with parents suggesting they would continue to risk fines rather than pay extortionate holiday prices during school holidays.
And Manchester headteacher Karl Harrison told the BBC: 'If you are saving £1,000 on a holiday, what's an extra £20 in a fine?'
One parent posted online: 'Can parents fine teachers £80 EACH per strike day taken making kids miss class too?
'Teacher strikes are unauthorised absences too for the kids. Ridiculous and unfair.'
Another wrote: 'Schools with a bullying problem, un-qualified teachers, classrooms with leaky dangerous roofs! Maybe fix that before fining parents.'
Other critics described the increased fines as 'just another government fundraising exercise'
