Eamonn Holmes scolds PARENTS for ‘dictating’ school timetables in row over absence fines: ‘Not punitive enough!’
GB News host Eamonn Holmes has scorned parents for “dictating the timetable” to schools as fines for in-term absences increase from today.
Parents who remove their children for unauthorised absences, including holidays, now face an £80 fine if paid within 21 days. The fine will increase to £160 if the payment is made within 28 days.
General secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, Paul Whiteman, said a “consistent national framework for fines makes sense”.
Debating the increase on GB News, radio broadcaster Danielle Broadbent claimed many parents “can’t afford” to take their children on holiday during the summer break, branding it “unfair” on lower income families.
Broadbent argued: “Not all families and children should miss out on vacations with their families due to the costs. If you fly out to a foreign destination two days or so before the school holidays start, you’re going to save yourself a couple of hundred, if not maybe £1,000.
“It’s not fair that families who don’t have the luxury to be able to afford it in school holidays should miss out on that crucial family bonding time, making memories that will last a lifetime.”
Noting the views of some GB News viewers, host Isabel Webster argued that it gives parents a “sense of entitlement”, and suggested that parents should considers holidays “within the UK” to “stay within budget”.
Broadbent disagreed, responding: “I priced up a holiday abroad with my children and found a deal online to go all inclusive for a week for cheaper. It’s a no brainer to me.
“Why would you stay in the UK and spend the same amount of money, if not more, when you can be guaranteed a week in the sun – learning about another culture and learning languages while you’re there.”
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Eamonn was infuriated by Broadbent’s “nonsense” argument and scolded parents for “dictating” the school timetable.
He fumed: “Who does that? Don’t talk nonsense, Danielle, no one goes abroad to learn languages and do things of their culture.
“I actually don’t think these fines are punitive enough, really, but it sort of says to me that parents now dictate the school curriculum, the school timetable, rather than the authorities.”
When pressed by Eamonn on where she would “draw the line” with fining parents for unauthorised absences and if occasions such as “concerts” should be included, Broadbent claimed: “That’s a totally different debate.
“Don’t forget, on some of these holidays, you’re not just going for the holiday. There might be a family wedding, a celebration that really you shouldn’t be fined to attend.”
Offering his verdict on the fines, teacher and broadcaster Bobby Seagull argued that allowing unauthorised absences sends a message to parents that they are “acceptable”, but actually have a “huge impact” on attainment at school.
Seagull explained: “One fifth of all children throughout the country missed school persistently, and one day a fortnight actually that adds up to a year of schooling.
“Over time, we’re sending a message that missing school is acceptable, but actually there’s a huge impact on attainment because we want our young people to be prepared for the world. As a society, school is so important that you need to be there Monday to Friday all the time.”