School fines father who took daughter out of school for D-Day event

A school has fined a father who took his 14-year-old daughter out of class to attend the D-Day commemorations.

Neil Young, a military vehicle restorer, says he informed St Anselm’s Catholic School in Canterbury, Kent, he would be taking Emily, 14, to France for the 80th anniversary of the landings.

Having not received a response from the school, he assumed there was no issue with Emily missing class to join the “once-in-a-lifetime” trip, he said.

But two days after arriving in Normandy, an attendance officer called Mr Young and asked him why his daughter had not arrived at school.

He then received an email informing him the absence was unauthorised and a decision would be taken on whether to issue £60 fines to him and his wife, Annette.

He said: “It was a bit of a blow and was not what we were expecting.

“I am disappointed in the school for being like this

“She had 100 per cent attendance last year and this year so far.”

Mr Young says his family were invited to attend the anniversary events by the Invicta Military Preservation Society.

They even laid a plaque for Emily’s great-grandfather near the Standing for Giants installation, which has 1,475 silhouettes across the British Normandy Memorial.

The group also visited museums and three different war cemeteries, paid their respects at memorials and met surviving Second World War veterans.

Mr Young, of Shepherdswell, Kent, said: “It was no holiday and every day was educational.

“It wasn’t a trip to Spain where we sat on the beach and did nothing.

“We went to different places, speaking to new people and learning new things.

“We started at 6am to get to certain places, which we left at 10pm.

“Emily wants to do history as a GCSE. I think it is disgraceful the school has done this.”

After being told Emily’s absence was not being authorised, Neil challenged the decision with assistant headteacher Harriet Holmes.

She replied: “I understand you are upset regarding the decision of the school to not authorise this event.

“I recognise that this is a fantastic opportunity for Emily, however, unfortunately the decision not to authorise this is due to Emily not being a direct part in the activities listed above.

“Although she is experiencing these she is not required to attend and therefore we cannot authorise the absence from her education.”

Penalty notices from Kent County Council arrived at the Youngs’ home this week, giving them 21 days to pay £60 or the fine would be increased to £120.

Despite Ms Holmes making the school’s stance clear in her email on June 4, she now blames an “administrative error” for the fines being issued.

She said: “The parents are not being fined as this was an administrative error that has been rectified.

“Whilst we are carrying out Kent County Council policy, we do acknowledge these are exceptional circumstances and have reviewed the coding.”

When informed of the school’s response, Neil said: “They are trying to think of something to blame it on other than they did not agree with [the absence].”