A family are furious with two schools – after being fined £360 for taking their children on a term-time holiday. Scott Allerton, his wife, and their three children jetted off to Turkey a week before the May half-term.

It comes after 12-year-old son Oliver has been diagnosed with autism. St Wilfrid's Catholic Academy and St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy have fined each parent £60 for each child.

Scott, aged 47, from Tunstall, said: "We needed to reconnect, we needed to bring the family together. So we approached the school and said look we're taking the children out of school for this week before the actual school holidays and we didn't get a response.

"So we had the holiday just to try to reconnect when it wasn't too busy because Oliver doesn't deal with crowds too well. So it's the first time we've done it and taken them out of school and prior to this their attendance was excellent.

St Wilfrid's Catholic Academy and St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy have fined each parent £60 for each child (Nub News).

"We haven't got the money to pay the fine. My wife is really, really upset about how we are going to pay this and no-one wants to listen to us and put our case forward.

"Yes, we'll pay the fine but we're so reluctant to do it because I just feel we have circumstances, we've not taken him out of school because we thought it was cheaper. It was the fact that Oliver needs the time where it's not too busy.

"The holiday destination was just starting its season. It was better for him and us as a family to be reconnected and brought back together – and then we've returned home to this."

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has told Scott that the fines can only be overturned by a headteacher.

Neither school has provided statements regarding Scott's case (Nub News).

Scott added: "What annoys me most is we have teacher training days and teacher strikes. Do I send them a letter fining them because education to my son is important. It's OK for them to take my children out of school when it suits and nothing comes of it but now I've done it."

Newman Catholic Collegiate runs St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy and St Wilfrid's Catholic Academy. Neither school has provided statements regarding Scott's case.

But the academy has sent a letter to Scott.

It states: "Regarding the holiday, our policy is unequivocal: we do not authorise holidays during term time. This policy was communicated to all parents at the beginning of the academic year to ensure consistent application. I note that your holiday dates included the May half-term. Research indicates that taking children out of school for holidays can negatively affect their mental health and academic attainment. Therefore, it is important for us to uphold this policy uniformly. Undermining the school's enforcement of this policy would be inappropriate, and both schools have consistently supported the collegiate position, ensuring that fines are issued accordingly."

------------

READ MORE: Newly refurbished tennis courts open across Stoke-on-Trent

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stoke Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our city.

Subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter email HERE - just click the 'SIGN UP' button.

Please consider following Stoke Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.