Revealed: How many fines your school gives parents for term time holidays
Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act reveal Outwood Academy (Adwick) to be dishing out more fines than any other school in Yorkshire, after 180 were given during September 2014 to August 2015.
It was one of two schools in the borough which gave more than 100 fines, with Owston Park Primary School the second highest school overall, and the highest primary school, after issuing 128 fixed penalty notices.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdOverall, more fines are dished out to parents for term time holidays in Doncaster than anywhere else in the Yorkshire and Humberside region, with 3,531 in total. The second highest in the region is Bradford, with 3,507. Rotherham handed out only 148.
There were only 16 schools in Doncaster which dished out no fines.
Parents of Armthorpe Shaw Wood Primary Academy received 97 fines 97, Danum Academy 81, Don Valley Academy 86, Hayfield Academy 83, Ridgewood Academy 81, Sir Thomas Wharton Academy 84, Town Field Primary Academy 84, and Trinity Academy 82.
Coun Nuala Fennelly, Doncaster Coucnil Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools, said: “Head teachers are responsible for deciding whether a fine should be issued to parents, based on guidance from the Department for Education and each case should be judged individually.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“Doncaster Council’s role is to administer the fines system and any funds received are reinvested in improving attendance.
“Currently, too many children in Doncaster are absent from school and attendance remains below the national average.
“This does need to be addressed as it is likely to have a significant impact on the children affected and their ability to secure a bright future for themselves and their families.
“Questions around consistency need to be addressed by the Department for Education.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe number of fines issued has risen dramatically across Yorkshire since the Government changed the guidelines given to schools two years ago.
Outwood Academy (Adwick) is part of the Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT).
Sir Michael Wilkins, academy principal and chief executive of OGAT, said: “It is unequivocal that GCSE results achieved by students can be adversely effected by poor attendance.”
He said that the trust employed a range of strategies to ensure that students attend on a regular basis. “In extreme cases, where our repertoire has been exhausted, we will not hesitate to contact the local authority in order that parents understand their obligations and a fine may well be issued.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHere are the number of fines issed for each Doncaster school between September 2014 and August 2015:
Adwick Primary School 38
All Saints Hooten Pagnell C of E Primary School 0
Arksey Primary School 2
Armthorpe Academy 54
Armthorpe Shaw Wood Primary Academy 97
Armthorpe Southfield Primary School 24
Armthorpe Tranmoor Primary School 23
Ash Hill Academy 74
Askern Moss Road Infant School 2
Askern Spa Junior School 18
Auckley Junior & Infant Academy 55
Balby Carr Community Academy 27
Balby Central Primary School 33
Barnburgh Primary School 42
Barnby Dun Primary Academy 25
Bawtry Mayflower Primary School 57
Bentley High Street Primary School 8
Bentley New Village Primary School 2
Bessacarr Primary School 25
Better Care Keys (KS4) 0
Branton St Wilfrid’s C of E Primary School 0
Campsmount Academy 68
Canon Popham C of E Primary School 0
Carcroft Primary School 11
Castle Academy 47
Conisbrough Balby Street Primary School 10
Conisbrough Ivanhoe Community School 69
Conisbrough Rowena Academy 22
Copley Junior School 0
Coppice Special School 2
Cusworth Centre 0
Danum Academy 81
De Warenne Academy 34
Denaby Main Primary School 7
Don Valley Academy 86
Doncaster College 0
Dunsville Primary Academy 1
Edenthorpe Hall Primary School 14
Edlington Victoria Primary School 9
Finningley St Oswalds C of E Primary 0
Gateway Centre 0
Grange Lane Infant Academy 7
Hall Cross Academy 5
Hatchell Wood Primary School 44
Hatfield Crookesbroom Academy 35
Hatfield Sheep Dip Lane Primary School 40
Hatfield Travis St Lawrence C of E Primary School 37
Hatfield Woodhouse Primary Academy 24
Hawthorn Primary School 25
Hayfield Academy 83
Hayfield Lane Primary School 5
Heatherwood Special School 0
Hexthorpe Primary School 71
Highfields Primary Academy 13
Hill Top Primary School 6
Holy Family Catholic Primary 11
Hungerhill Academy 15
Intake Primary School 26
Kingfisher Primary School 5
Kirk Sandall Infant School 18
Kirk Sandall Junior School 2
Kirkby Avenue Primary School 24
Lakeside Primary School 42
Littlemoor Childrens Centre and School 2
Long Toft Primary School 58
Mallard Primary School 53
Marshland Primary School 5
Mexborough Doncaster Road Junior School 14
Mexborough Highwoods Primary School 23
Montagu Academy 40
Mexborough Pitt Street Infant School 13
Mexborough Academy 46
Mexborough St John the Baptist C of E Primary School 4
Morely Place Junior School 0
North Ridge Community School 7
Norton Infant School 13
Norton Junior School 15
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Primary School 17
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Primary School 8
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Primary School 20
Outwood Academy, Adwick 180
Owston Park Primary School 128
Park Primary School 58
Pennine View Special School 0
Pheasant Bank Academy 32
Plover Primary School 9
Richmond Hill Primary School 2
Ridgewood Academy 81
Rossington All Saints Academy 78
Rossington St Michaels C of E Primary School 70
Rossington Tornedale Infant School 29
Sandringham Primary School 19
Scawsby Rosedale Primary School 0
Scawsby Saltersgate Infant School 12
Scawsby Saltersgate Junior School 10
Scawthorpe Sunnyfields Primary School 22
Sir Thomas Wharton Academy 84
Sprotborough Orchard Infant School 3
St Albans Catholic Primary School 10
St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School 25
St Josephs & St Theresa’s Catholic Primary School 10
St Marys Catholic Primary School 19
St Peters Catholic Primary School 0
Stainforth Kirton Lane Primary School 19
Stirling Primary School 58
Stone Hill Special School 4
The McAuley Catholic High School 0
Thorne Brooke Primary School 73
Thorne Green Top Primary School 53
Thorne King Edward Primary School 24
Tickhill Estfeld Primary School 44
Tickhill St Marys C of E Primary School 23
Toll Bar Primary School 2
Town Field Primary School 84
Trinity Academy 82
Wadworth Primary School 40
Warmsworth Primary School 60
Waverley Primary School 7
West Road Primary School 32
Willow Primary Academy 44
Windhill Primary School 0
Woodfield Primary School 7
Woodlands Primary School 51