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Open Ban schools from issuing absence fines to both parents if they’re separated

Created by Lucy Boothroyd
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We want the Government to change the rules so that school attendance fines are not automatically issued to both parents if they are separated, and only to be issued to the parent who arranged or agreed to the unauthorised absence.

Currently, local authorities may issue penalty notices to each parent with parental responsibility, even where parents are separated and one parent had no knowledge of, involvement in, or ability to prevent the absence.

We believe this is unfair and causes unnecessary conflict. We want the system updated so that fines are only issued to the parent responsible for the decision, or so that parents can be exempt if they can show they did not agree and could not reasonably stop it.

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    This petition will stay open until 10 September 2026.