Petition · past parliament
Stop issuing school fines to BOTH parents if parents are legally separated
Rejected
21 signatures
What the petition asks
UK law currently allows Fixed Penalty Notices to be issued to both parents following an unauthorised absence, despite parents being estranged.
The law needs to be changed to protect the parent not responsible for an absence when it was beyond their control and often knowledge.
The law needs to be changed to protect the parent not responsible for an absence when it was beyond their control and often knowledge.
Many families experience absent parents, Domestic Violence & other complicated matters which prohibit communication between two separated parents. There are often Court Orders in place prohibiting communication from taking place.
It is unreasonable for a Local Authority to impose a Fixed Penalty Notice to two parents following an authorised absence from school.
Headteachers should not be allowed to instruct councils to fine BOTH parents when only one is responsible for the period of absence.
It is unreasonable for a Local Authority to impose a Fixed Penalty Notice to two parents following an authorised absence from school.
Headteachers should not be allowed to instruct councils to fine BOTH parents when only one is responsible for the period of absence.
Why it was rejected
There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.
You may wish to sign this petition which calls for a similar action: Stop local councils charging both parents to take their children on holiday
Timeline
| 8 Nov 2022 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 11 Nov 2022 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
21
Status
Rejected
Rejected
11 Nov 2022
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.