AN OXFORD school has issued a warning to parents that they can be fined, and even prosecuted, for taking their children on holiday during term time.

Prior to the school reopening for Year 7 pupils yesterday, St Gregory the Great Catholic School in Cowley sent a letter to parents.

The letter, sent on Tuesday and signed by acting headteacher Heather Pallier, states the current penalty for an unauthorised absence is £60 per parent per child.

This rises to £120 per parent per child if not paid within 21 days.

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The letter says: “St Gregory the Great school is committed to ensuring that your child receives the best possible education to best prepare them for the next stage of their life.

“Each school day is carefully planned, and each lesson informs a wider programme of learning. Therefore, every lesson really does count.

“Your child is a valued member of our school community and every day missed is a day lost without them.

“It is the policy of this school not to authorise absence for holidays during term time.

“While advance permission can be given in exceptional circumstances, this is rare and can only be granted by me in my capacity as headteacher.

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“Any such request should be addressed to me in writing before the holiday is taken and you should not assume that permission will be granted.

“If a term time holiday is taken without permission, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised and a referral may be made to the County Attendance Team.

“This may result in the issue of an Education Penalty Notice under section 444A of the Education Act 1996 in respect of each absent child, to each parent/carer.”

When asked by the Oxford Mail whether parents nervous about children returning due to Covid-19 would class as an unauthorised absence, a spokesperson for the school said: “If parents are anxious about it, then officially that would be classed as an unauthorised absence.

“However, the school would invite the parents in to talk about those issues.”

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The letter from Mrs Pallier further says: “Penalty notices are intended as an alternative to prosecution.

“If the penalty is not paid in full within 28 days, the usual consequence is a Magistrates’ Court prosecution for the underlying section 444(1) Education Act 1996 offence of failure to secure regular school attendance.

“If further instances of unauthorised absence occur despite a penalty notice having previously been issued, or if the child’s attendance is a wider matter of concern, the local authority may consider prosecution in any event.

The Oxfordshire County Council website states: “Should a school not agree to grant leave and parents take their child on holiday, this will be counted as unauthorised absence. The school and our county attendance officer may consider issuing a penalty fine of £60.”