ITV News Index

ComRes interviewed 2,052 British adults online between 21^st and 23^rd February 2014. Data were weighted to be demographically representative of all GB adults aged 18+. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

 

Date Published: 24 Feb 2014

Categories: Education | Public and communities | Social | UK

Description

COMRES / ITV NEWS POLL: HALF OF PARENTS WOULD TAKE KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL

IN TERM-TIME FOR CHEAPER HOLIDAY

 

 

As the debate over school holidays and premium holiday prices gains pace, the latest News Index poll conducted by ComRes for ITV News reveals that half of parents (51%) in Britain, who have children under the age of 18, would take their children out of school during term time if it meant they could get a significantly cheaper holiday. Furthermore, 42% of the wider British public agree.

 

Just one in eight British adults (13%) believes that current travel prices for booking trips abroad during the school holidays are fair, while seven in ten (71%) disagree.

 

In line with this, Michael Gove told ITV News earlier: "It’s quite unfair that holiday companies are attempting to essentially fleece parents by trying to ramp up prices at particular times of the year. One of the things we’ve done to make it easier is allow schools to vary the school holiday so that some schools can choose to close early or open late, to ensure parents have an opportunity to take holiday at an off-peak time to benefit from cheaper prices. The holiday industry, the tourist industry, should listen to concerns expressed by the public and demonstrate greater flexibility as well.”

 

On punishment, more than half of British adults (54%) disagree that it is reasonable for parents to be fined up to £120 per child if they take their children out of school for a holiday, while 30% agree that it is reasonable. The public is even less supportive of the use of prison sentences as a punishment: just one in six (17%) say that it is reasonable that parents should have to risk up to three months in prison if they take their children out of school for a holiday – more than two thirds (69%) disagree.

 

However, half of Britons (49%) think that parents should not be able to take their children out of school at any time they like, compared to one third (35%) who think parents should be able to take children out of school when they want.

 

Results will run on ITV News at 6.30pm and Ten.

 

METHODOLOGY: ComRes interviewed 2,052 British adults online between 21^st and 23^rd February 2014. Data were weighted to be demographically representative of all GB adults aged 18+. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.