A headteacher has said only some parents will be fined £50 if their children are absent from class.

Colin Taylor, headteacher of Oakmeeds Community College in Station Road, Burgess Hill, said that if everyone was fined for taking their offspring out of class for unauthorised holidays then relationships between the school and parents would be “damaged”.

This is despite other headteachers suggesting such measures were necessary to prevent pupils missing classes and West Sussex County Council – who run his school – supporting the fines.

West Sussex County Council has this academic year made changes so that parents/guardians will have enforcement instigated against them if their child has five or more unauthorised days off within ten weeks.

This means that parents could be fined £50 or £100 if they do not pay within 28 days.