According to a poll conducted by the nonprofit organization Parentkind, nearly three out of five parents—57 percent—have or would consider taking a day or longer leave of absence from school for a term-time holiday.
The same percentage stated that their decision to withdraw their child from school would not be influenced by the possibility of being fined.
Before increased fines for unapproved student absences went into force in England, YouGov conducted a survey of almost 5,500 parents from all over the United Kingdom in April and May.
This academic year, the government raised the fine for missing school from £60 to £80.
Now, a parent will automatically be fined £160 if they receive a second fine for the same child within three years.
According to the survey, over 50% of parents expressed opposition to the policy revisions.
If a parent receives more than two penalties per child in a three-year period, the Department for Education (DfE) has stated that alternative measures, such as a parenting order or prosecution, will be taken into consideration. The maximum fine for those who are prosecuted is £2,500.
