Five parents fined for children skipping school in Milton Keynes

The parents all appeared before Milton Keynes magistrates last week as part of a group of 15 people being similarly prosecuted by Milton Keynes Council.

The other 10 cases were adjourned.

The five convicted parents, who can't be named for legal reasons, were all given a fine plus an order to pay court costs and a victim services surcharge.

Their fines ranged from £40 to £220 and their cost orders were between £75 and £100.

The youngest child involved was nine years old and the oldest was 14. The schools included Walton High and Hazeley Academy.

All parents are liable to a maximum fine of up to £2,500, serve a community order or even a prison sentence of up to three months if their child does not attend school regularly. Courts can also impose a Parenting Order.

A spokesman for Milton Keynes Council said: "Regular attendance at school is vital to help children achieve and get the best possible start in life. Children who frequently miss school often fall behind. In fact, there is a strong link between regular school attendance and achieving good grades at GCSE - having an attendance rate of 80 per cent is equivalent to missing a day a week."