MORE than 500 fines were issued to parents whose children missed school during the last school year, latest figures reveal.
Barnsley Council issued a total of 563 fines during the 2015/16 year, which brought in an estimated £33,780. This is based on the minimum fine level of £60, although fines not paid within 21 days will have risen to £120. Of the fines issued in Barnsley, 27 were eventually withdrawn.
The data was obtained through following a request under the freedom of information act by law firm Simpson Millar.
Solicitor for the firm Julie Robertson specialises in helping families challenge unreasonable fines. She said: “These figures are quite frankly staggering.”
Read more in this weeks Barnsley Chronicle
