Should parents have the right to take school children on holiday during term time?

May 17, 2016, 09:22 AM

Rules to stop English parents taking children on holidays during school terms have been thrown into disarray by a court ruling. The High Court has ruled in favour of a father who refused to pay a fine for taking his daughter on holiday during term time. Jon Platt, originally from Northern Ireland, argued he had no case to answer as his daughter went to school regularly. Mr Platt's local council on the Isle of Wight says it's "disappointed" with the ruling, and the Cameron government has said it will now consider making alterations to the law. But are the authorities right to want to clamp down when holiday prices sky rocket during peak season? In Northern Ireland term-time holidays are considered unauthorised absences but there are no fines here. Stephen spoke to semi-retired teacher Ken Thatcher and mum Lori Campbell