This week, social media in the UK was full of the obligatory back to school photos. Over here in Mallorca, despite breaking up in the middle of June, the majority of schools go back next Wednesday. There’s not a Mum and Dad I know that can’t wait for that. In my opinion, three months off is without doubt far too long for kids to be out of school. Yes you read that right, 3 months, 12 weeks or 84 days! One of the excuses I heard once was that as the schools are so old they don’t have air conditioning, and therefore it’s uncomfortable for children. Which I get, but why do some schools then re-open to do summer schools and charge you for the privilege? Some will say it gives parents an opportunity to spend quality time with their kids, but a high percentage of those parents work in our biggest industry, tourism, and it’s the height of season.
In the UK the fining system has been increased by the Government, when you take children out of school, particularly for a holiday.
This is the information from the Government education hub.
“In the majority of cases, schools and local authorities will try and provide support to help you improve your child’s attendance first, but if this isn’t effective or the absence is for unauthorised term time holiday, parents may face paying a fine.
It’s the responsibility of the local authority to decide when to issue fines to parents, meaning the process varies from council to council.
However, under the national rules, all schools are required to consider a fine when a child has missed 10 or more sessions (5 days) for unauthorised reasons.
From August 2024, the fine for school absences across the country will be £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days. This rate is in line with inflation and is the first increase since 2012.
In the case of repeated fines, if a parent receives a second fine for the same child within any three-year period, this will be charged at the higher rate of £160.”
Back in March, I wrote the following,
“In 1990 when I first arrived in Mallorca, families used to visit the island every month. So you wouldn’t see a major difference whether the children were on holiday from school or not. This changed however in 2012 when the coalition government of the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats brought in a law that only allowed children to go on holiday in the official school holidays. The Minister was Michael Gove (remember him?). He said at the time “It is wrong for parents to take children out of school during term time to take advantage of cheaper holidays and there should be a call for action to stop holiday companies cashing in by ramping up prices during the school holidays.” He added, “that the holiday industry should look at itself in the mirror and ask whether it was doing enough to help its customers.”
Well that didn’t work, did it. Tour operators, airlines, hotels, in fact pretty much everybody involved in the tourist industry still puts their prices up in school holidays. Why? Because of the increased demand, created by Government policy. I know as I book my holidays at Christmas both in the UK and abroad.” For instance, if I want to book the cheapest lodge at Woburn Center Parcs UK for 4 nights between December 23rd and December 27th it will cost £1,699.00. That same lodge from the 6th of January to the 10th of January is £399.00!
With all the headlines around Ticketmaster putting their prices up for Oasis tickets because of increased demand, ask yourself, what is the difference? For me, it’s double standards from the Government. Seeing new countries, experiencing new cultures, hearing new languages and tasting different cuisines should be part of a child’s education in my opinion. And it should be in the hands of the parents and teachers to decide if a child could take some time away, not a Government Minister.
I would be interested to know if the Tour Operators, airlines and hotels would prefer to go back to the old system of letting children go on holiday when their parents wish them to, and then they will be able to price accordingly? And it might just help the claimed “over tourism” both here and around the World.
I welcome your thoughts.
Richie is the MD at Pirates, the island’s number one night out featuring Adventure, Reloaded and Gringos. Subscribe to receive his blogs at http://www.dadtaximallorca.com
Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi, or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com
Dad Taxi Mallorca 
I agree that they should go back to the old system, as a business owner I would love to have an all year round business that could employ people all year
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