Figures suggest Jon Platt case led to jump in term-time holidays
Figures just released by the Department for Education show a sharp rise in the number of children taken out of school for term-time holidays following the high profile court battle by father Jon Platt.
The case, which questioned the right of local authorities to fine parents for their child’s unauthorised absence, was eventually lost by Platt, who had taken his daughter to Disney World Florida.
Nearly 60,000 more pupils were taken out of school on unauthorised family holidays at the start of the school term in September, compared to the previous year.
The rise suggests that parents were inspired by Platt’s initial win against the Isle of Wight Council, but the Department of Education said to treat the figures with caution.
"The absence figures in this publication are the first that relate fully to the period after the Isle of Wight Council v Jon Platt High Court judgment (which was in May 2016).
However, interpretation of any trends should be treat with caution due to the volatility of single term absence figures," it said.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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