Should parents be allowed to take kids out of school for a holiday?

11 April 2017

The Supreme Court has finally ruled that parents can’t take their children on term-time holidays without risking being fined.

The case concerned a father who’d refused to pay a fine after he'd taken his six-year-old daughter out of school for a holiday.

But what do you think? Should parents be allowed to take their kids on holiday during term time? Which of these is CLOSEST to your view?

Results

**I’m a parent of a school-age child (4768 votes)**

No (children need schooling, a holiday is not good enough reason to stop)		544 votes (11%)
No (choice would be nice, but it's too difficult for teachers if children are constantly absent)		325 votes (7%)
No (unless parents' jobs restrict taking holiday outside of term time)		184 votes (4%)
Yes (parents should have total freedom on this)		474 votes (10%)
Yes (BUT only for a strict maximum number of days – eg, one or two weeks a year – booked in advance, not at a crucial time)		2820 votes (59%)
Yes (BUT only for younger children – infant and primary – not senior school)		421 votes (9%)

**I’m not a parent of a school-age child (8265 votes)**

No (children need schooling, a holiday is not good enough reason to stop)		1929 votes (23%)
No (choice would be nice, but it's too difficult for teachers if children are constantly absent)		1028 votes (12%)
No (unless parents' jobs restrict taking holiday outside of term time)		579 votes (7%)
Yes (parents should have total freedom on this)		670 votes (8%)
Yes (BUT only for a strict maximum number of days – eg, one or two weeks a year – booked in advance, not at a crucial time)		3313 votes (40%)
Yes (BUT only for younger children – infant and primary – not senior school)		746 votes (9%)

13,033 votes received.

We try to use technology to limit voting to one per person. Occasionally, this may erroneously block a few people's votes (eg, from shared offices). Apologies for that.

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