Increasing fines for parents whose children skip school will do nothing to cut unauthorised absence, the government’s new attendance tsar said, as he outlined his ambitions for the role.
Ministers announced this week that they will increase the penalties for the first time since 2012 to £80, bringing them in line with inflation over the past 12 years.
Education secretary Gillian Keegan said the move – which will come into force in September – was part of her department’s “next step to further boost attendance” across England.
But, after being named the government’s “national attendance ambassador” yesterday, Rob Tarn predicted that the changes would not stop rule-breaking parents from taking their children on term-time holidays.
