How many Shropshire parents were fined for taking kids out of school in term-time
More parents have been fined in the last academic year.
More than 1,500 fines have been issued to parents in Shropshire for taking their children out of school when they didn't have the authority to do so.
Responding to a Freedom of Information request, Shropshire Council said that a third of the 1,537 fines during the 2025/26 academic year were issued last October (511), followed by 226 in March.
There were 148 fines in January, 143 in May, 102 in December, 88 in July, 73 in September, 73 in June, 71 in November, 60 in February, 48 in October, and 42 in April.
During the 2024/25 academic year, there were 1,409 fines issued, meaning there has been a rise of 128.
The vast majority (1,411) were for first offence PNI LATT (Penalty Notice Investigation: Leave Allowed in Term) which are primarily for unauthorised family holidays, while there were 86 second offence equivalents.
Shropshire Council also issued 39 PNI Attendance first offences, and one for a second offence. This can be issued for general non-attendance, truancy, or arriving late after registers close.
The local authority follows national guidelines, where fines are set at £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days, rising to £160 if paid within 28 days.
However, a second school absence penalty notice within a three-year period carries a flat rate fine of £160 per parent, per child.
Unpaid fines after 28 days can result in prosecution through the Magistrates Court.
Most of the children (90) were attending primary school at the time the fines were issued during 2025/26, with 22 being at secondary, five at specialist schools, and five at independent establishments.
Shropshire Council say that, where the numbers are low, disclosure of the actual figure is being withheld because information could potentially be used with other details held by someone else to identify an individual and disclose personal information. On this basis, the local authority has refused disclosing the exact figures.
The name of the schools is also not being provided. A council spokesperson said that schools are able to choose whether or not they are named in any decision notices.
In all cases, they have submitted information on the understanding that the name of the school would not be published.
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