Should parents be allowed to take kids out of school for a holiday?

10 April 2017

Save

• My account
• Remove

Share

The Supreme Court has finally ruled that parents can’t take their children on term-time holidays without risking being fined. The case concerned a father who’d refused to pay a fine after he'd taken his six-year-old daughter out of school for a holiday. But what do you think? Should parents be allowed to take their kids on holiday during term time? Which of these is CLOSEST to your view?

The Supreme Court has finally ruled that parents can’t take their children on term-time holidays without risking being fined.

The case concerned a father who’d refused to pay a fine after he'd taken his six-year-old daughter out of school for a holiday.

But what do you think? Should parents be allowed to take their kids on holiday during term time? Which of these is CLOSEST to your view?

Results

I’m a parent of a school-age child (4768 votes)

No (children need schooling, a holiday is not good enough reason to stop)		544 votes (11%)
No (choice would be nice, but it's too difficult for teachers if children are constantly absent)		325 votes (7%)
No (unless parents' jobs restrict taking holiday outside of term time)		184 votes (4%)
Yes (parents should have total freedom on this)		474 votes (10%)
Yes (BUT only for a strict maximum number of days – eg, one or two weeks a year – booked in advance, not at a crucial time)		2820 votes (59%)
Yes (BUT only for younger children – infant and primary – not senior school)		421 votes (9%)

I’m not a parent of a school-age child (8265 votes)

No (children need schooling, a holiday is not good enough reason to stop)		1929 votes (23%)
No (choice would be nice, but it's too difficult for teachers if children are constantly absent)		1028 votes (12%)
No (unless parents' jobs restrict taking holiday outside of term time)		579 votes (7%)
Yes (parents should have total freedom on this)		670 votes (8%)
Yes (BUT only for a strict maximum number of days – eg, one or two weeks a year – booked in advance, not at a crucial time)		3313 votes (40%)
Yes (BUT only for younger children – infant and primary – not senior school)		746 votes (9%)

                   13,033 votes received.

We try to use technology to limit voting to one per person. Occasionally, this may erroneously block a few people's votes (eg, from shared offices). Apologies for that.