Ealing among naughtiest London boroughs for unauthorised school holidays

Image: Children on holiday; library image

Ealing had 1,304 fines for family holidays over period of 2022/23

As the summer holidays approach, many parents consider taking their children out of school early or delaying their return to secure cheaper flights for a summer getaway. Rather than paying the often prohibitively expensive travel costs at the beginning of summer, some parents opt to absorb the fines imposed by local councils for unauthorised absences.

Recent data from the Department for Education on unauthorised school holidays in London reveal the boroughs with the highest rates of school absences leading up to the summer holidays. Certain areas show significantly higher numbers of penalty notices issued for unauthorised absences and family holidays.

Ealing ranks as the seventh highest borough for total penalty notices, with 2,639 issued in 2022/23. This includes 1,335 notices for unauthorised absences and 1,304 for family holidays.

In contrast, Hounslow ranks eleventh with 857 penalty notices, comprising 632 for unauthorised absences and 225 for family holidays.

Notably, Redbridge tops the list with a staggering 8,811 penalty notices, outpacing all other boroughs. This includes 4,451 notices for general unauthorised absences and 4,360 specifically for unauthorised family holidays. Havering follows with 7,514 notices, including 3,861 for unauthorised absences and 3,653 for family holidays.

The boroughs with the fewest penalty notices are Greenwich, with 101 notices for unauthorised absences and none for family holidays, and Richmond, with 280 notices, including 187 for unauthorised absences and 93 for family holidays.

Image: A plane flying over Heathrow Airport

What are the cheapest dates during the summer holidays?

Parents of children in English state schools (private schools are exempt) face difficulty in obtaining permission for term-time holidays. Unauthorised absences can result in an £80 fine per parent, per child.

Schools used to have the discretion to allow up to 10 days’ term-time holiday each year in ‘special circumstances’. The rules were tightened in Sept 2013 though – now head teachers at state schools in England can only give permission for term-time absences in “exceptional circumstances”.

Under rules which came into effect earlier this year, the initial penalty notices were raised from £60 to £80, if paid within 21 days. Those who delay payment will have fines raised from £120 to £160.

The consumer watchdog Which? found the most expensive weeks for booking a package holiday are from 27 July to 3 August and from 3 August to 10 August, right after most English schools break up. It is, on average, £123 cheaper per person to book a package break during the last week of the summer holiday than the first week.

The cheapest week for a summer package holiday is the final one, from 24 to 31 August, when most children are still off school.

Image: Cllr Samia Chaudhary

Hounslow “delighted” at fewer unauthorised absences

Cllr Samia Chaudhary, Cabinet Member for Education, Children, Skills, and Employment on Hounslow Council, commented:

“We are delighted that schools and parents in Hounslow understand the importance of school attendance, resulting in fewer unauthorised absences in 2022/23 compared to 12 of the other 19 London councils that shared their data with the Department for Education.”

Ealing Council has been approached for comment but has not yet responded.

Breakdown of the naughty list

Below is the detailed ranking of London boroughs based on total penalty notices issued for unauthorised absences:

1. Redbridge: 8,811 (UA: 4,451, Family Holidays: 4,360)
2. Havering: 7,514 (UA: 3,861, Family Holidays: 3,653)
3. Barking and Dagenham: 5,116 (UA: 2,705, Family Holidays: 2,411)
4. Barnet: 3,530 (UA: 1,832, Family Holidays: 1,698)
5. Harrow: 3,313 (UA: 1,718, Family Holidays: 1,595)
6. Waltham Forest: 3,057 (UA: 1,880, Family Holidays: 1,177)
7. Ealing: 2,639 (UA: 1,335, Family Holidays: 1,304)
8. Croydon: 2,458 (UA: 1,264, Family Holidays: 1,194)
9. Bromley: 1,439 (UA: 773, Family Holidays: 666)
10. Hillingdon: 1,294 (UA: 700, Family Holidays: 594)
11. Hounslow: 857 (UA: 632, Family Holidays: 225)
12. Enfield: 735 (UA: 381, Family Holidays: 354)
13. Bexley: 704 (UA: 361, Family Holidays: 343)
14. Sutton: 591 (UA: 378, Family Holidays: 213)
15. Brent: 424 (UA: 218, Family Holidays: 206)
16. Merton: 376 (UA: 217, Family Holidays: 159)
17. Kingston upon Thames: 228 (UA: 118, Family Holidays: 110)
18. Richmond upon Thames: 187 (UA: 94, Family Holidays: 93)
19. Greenwich: 101 (UA: 101, Family Holidays: 0)