As a parent, I find myself in a bit of a conundrum. My 10-year-old daughter’s school attendance rate for this academic year stands at a mere 84 percent. I have always been a stickler for rules—never once did I receive detention, I consistently achieved outstanding grades, participated in the school orchestra, and even captained various sports teams. That 84 percent figure does irk me, to say the least.
However, when opportunities arise for family travel that allow us to immerse ourselves in different cultures, I firmly believe it’s an experience worth seizing. Travel has a unique way of educating and enriching lives, which often surpasses the lessons learned in a traditional classroom.
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Reflecting on my own childhood, I recall a significant period between the ages of seven and eight when I missed an entire year of school. My family embarked on a remarkable journey sailing around the world on a boat my father constructed himself. During that year, we were fortunate enough to witness the grandeur of the Pyramids in Egypt, navigate through a narrow canal in France, snorkel over Jacques Cousteau’s underwater house in the Red Sea, and savor ice cream at the then-Bombay Yacht Club. Those experiences taught me geography in a way that textbooks never could; I witnessed poverty and wealth existing side by side and heard a symphony of languages from various cultures.
Now, as I navigate parenthood with my two daughters—one aged 10 and another just three—I deeply value the educational experiences travel can provide. Whether it’s discovering stunning coral-strewn beaches in Fiji, skiing in Norway, or indulging in noodles for breakfast at a hawker center in Singapore, I believe these experiences are far more enriching than merely practicing multiplication tables in a classroom.
Recent statistics from the Department for Education reveal that unauthorised absences in England reached a record high during the 2023-2024 academic year, with over 487,000 penalty notices issued. Nearly 444,000 of these were attributed to family holidays, though the reasons behind them are often more complex than simply seeking cheaper travel options.
What about those who travel for meaningful occasions like weddings? Or those who are compelled to leave for unavoidable work commitments without childcare? For families with children who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), quieter periods during school term times may be the only feasible opportunity for travel.
For my family, the cost factor is significant. We have chosen to accept unauthorised absences and willingly pay the £80 fine per parent because it is easily outweighed by the hundreds of pounds we save by travelling during term time. While missing school is not ideal and constitutes an offence under Section 444 of the Education Act in England and Wales (and does not incur fines in Scotland), it is a risk we are prepared to take for the sake of family experiences.
Repeated cases of unauthorised absence can jeopardize a child’s school place, and while I don’t encourage anyone to take this route regularly, I will certainly avoid it as my children approach crucial exam years. However, how can we afford family holidays without sacrificing several months’ worth of salary?
One potential solution could be adopting the French educational model. In France, school holidays, including Easter and the equivalent of the October and February half terms, are staggered over several weeks across three zones of the country. Additionally, the summer break in France is two weeks longer than in England. This staggered approach helps distribute travel demand, reduces price surges, and grants parents greater flexibility.
While term dates vary across the four nations of the UK, the fact remains that over 84 percent of the UK population resides in England, and four of the five busiest airports are located in the South East. This disparity does little to alleviate the financial burden of travel for families.
As for my family, we may miss out on those coveted attendance awards this year. Yet, in the grand tapestry of life experiences, I firmly believe that the lessons learned through travel are invaluable.
— Clio Wood
