Overview

• Michelle and Andrew Partington took their 12-year-old son out of school for a 10-day visit to Sharm El Sheikh starting June 1.
• Wigan Council issued £80 penalty notices to each parent on July 2 after the school refused to authorise the absence.
• The parents say the trip was educational and intended to lift their son’s spirits after a school change due to bullying.
• They report canceling planned summer activities because of the cost, arguing they could not afford peak-season prices.
• Under current rules, unauthorised term-time absences can trigger £80 fines per parent that double after 21 days and may lead to prosecution if unpaid.