PARENTS at Basildon Academies were handed more fines for unauthorised pupil absences than any other school in Essex last year.

Fines, which range between £60 and £120, were handed out at Basildon Lower Academy, in Timberlog Close, on 54 occasions in 2014/15.

When combined with the 34 fines handed to parents at the Upper Academy, in Wickford Avenue, Pitsea, the academies are responsible for about one in eight fines handed out countywide.

Of the schools outside the Basildon borough, Sweyne Park School in Rayleigh, was the next highest issuing 11 fines, while Southend Council issued 45 fines in 2014/15, up from 18 in 2013/14.

Keith Bobbin, school governor at the academies and county councillor for Pitsea, believes a firm approach is necessary.

He said: “We have got to have a deterrent to tell parents their children’s education is important.

“I understand why parents try to take children on holiday during term-time and I think the Government should do more to regulate holiday firms, but education has to be the top priority.

“Schools also need to do what they can to encourage parents to be involved in their children’s education.”

Basildon Academies has long had a reputation for taking a tough stance on truancy.

In 2011/12, under the leadership of former headteacher Dr Rory Fox, 12 parents were taken to court.

For the most recent academic year, prosecution action was taken under the Education Act on 17 occasions.

Two other schools in the borough, Woodlands School, Basildon, and Bromfords School, Wickford, also feature among the top ten for fines issued.

In total, 717 fines were issued in Essex County Council controlled schools in 2014/15, almost half the 1,421 which were issued the previous year.

Anne Jones, Southend councillor responsible for education, said that the council is supportive as possible to parents and children with difficult social backgrounds, but they have to follow Government procedure.

An amendment to the Education Act, which came into force in September 2013, means schools will only grant permission for pupil absence in term time under “exceptional circumstances”.

If an unauthorised absence takes place without school permission, the case is then referred to the council, which can issue fines of £120 to each parents of each child taken out of school.

She said: “There is a caring attitude from schools and from the council in Southend, but Government policy is that schools needs to be good schools, and not coasting schools.

“It is up to the school themselves to trigger that sort of action.”

MOST FINES IN SOUTH ESSEX 2014/15

  • 88 - Basildon Academies 
  • 33 - Woodlands School, Basildon 
  • 23 - Bromfords School, Wickford 
  • 16 - James Hornsby School, Basildon 
  • 11 - De La Salle School, Basildon 
  • 11 - Sweyne Park School, Rayleigh 
  • 11 - King Edmund School, Rochford 
  • 8 - Mayflower High School, Billericay 
  • 7 - Cherry Tree Primary School, Basildon 
  • 6 - William Read Primary School, Canvey 

Echo:

Teachers' union secretary Jerry Glazier believes laws governing fines are not helpful

HIGHER prices for flights and accommodation during school holidays are partly responsible for pupil absences, a teaching representative believes.

But Jerry Glazier, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers in Essex, believes issuing fines is not the solution to the problem.

He said: “We have never supported legislation which creates fines because we feel that approach ends up backing both parties into a corner.

“It is not helpful in creating positive engagement with parents.”

Mr Glazier believes there needs to be more flexibility by schools in understanding the needs of parents.

He said: “We feel there needs to be a balance which is missing in some cases.

“The problem schools have is that the message from Government has been they are being judged on how they respond to unauthorised absences.”

Ray Gooding, county councillor responsible for education, said: “Parents have a legal duty to ensure regular school attendance for their children who are registered at a school.

“Legislation was amended in September 2013, making it clear headteachers should not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.

“Every lesson counts and the Government expects local authorities to use their statutory powers to protect the education of children.

“These powers, which include issuing penalty notices and prosecuting parents, will continue to be used where appropriate.

“Schools will work with families to address the causes of absence but if strategies are unsuccessful and schools do not authorise the absences then the matter may be referred to our education welfare service.”