Sod the fines, parents are right to save on holiday costs

With just a week or so to go before schools break up for the summer, are you one of the families trying to save money on your holiday by pulling the kids out of class early? If so, I salute you. And I’m a school governor.

After all, they’re mostly watching films or larking about in the playground at a time when there are real savings to be had if you can travel – right? One teacher told me she looks forward to the last week of term when children have been taken out of school early. ‘So much easier to teach 24 than 30 isn’t it? Why do you think private schools do so well?’.

OK, I’m being churlish and, of course, there are still plenty of important lessons being taught in classrooms throughout the land. But family holidays are also hugely important – and can be educational. Seeing as travel companies are getting away with murder by charging exorbitant prices (more on their unfair and hidden charges later) then yes, I think allowing pupils to miss the last couple of days of term in order to save their parents significant wads of cash is justifiable.

I was particularly impressed to read about the example set by Eveswell Primary School in South Wales, when the headmistress Catherine Barnett arranged five inset days in one week enabling parents to book cheaper holidays outside of the main school holidays.