UNAUTHORISED absences from school are when pupils have been marked in the school attendance register as being absent from school without authority.

The law says that children must attend school regularly and on time during term time, and can only miss lessons if they are ill or if the school’s head teacher has authorised the absence.

Parents who take their children out of school without permission can either discharge their criminal liability by accepting Fixed Penalty Notices or, instead, face being prosecuted in court.

This ruling led to no less than 149,321 parents in the UK being issued with such fines during the school year 2016/17.

So, a simple question. How many teachers who encouraged their pupils attend the climate change rallies, which took place during term time, will also face financial penalties?

After all, if parents cannot do that sort of thing then neither can they.

As the saying goes, “what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander”.

Eric Waters Lancing