Mrs Clare Claxton, Principal at Thomas Clarkson Academy stated ‘It is not the Academy’s intention to make life miserable for families but there is undoubtedly a direct link between improved achievement and increased levels of attendance. The aim of taking such action is to improve the life chances of our students whose attendance is poor.’

Martine Boyd, Education Welfare Officer for Brooke Weston Trust said: “Thomas Clarkson Academy has been working to improve attendance and the decision to instigate legal action is taken as a final stage. Since September 2015, there have been several prosecutions resulting in parents receiving a criminal conviction for failing to ensure regular school attendance under Section 444(1) of the Education Act 1996. These include –

• A parent of a year 11 student who did not attend received a £784 fine
• A parent of a Year 11 student pleaded guilty and received a £150 fine.
• A parent of a Year 10 student pleaded guilty and received a £150 fine.
• Parents of a Year 11 student pleaded guilty and received £195 and £165 fines
• A parent of a Year 11 student pleaded guilty and received a £165 fine, plus a 12 month conditional discharge and 12 months Parenting Order.
• A parent of a Year 11 student was given a £90 fine and a 12 months conditional discharge
• A parent of a Year 10 student pleaded guilty and was given a 12 months Parenting Order.
• Parents of a Year 11 student received a fine of £165 each and a 12 months Parenting Order”

There are several further cases listed for court proceedings in the forthcoming months.