A primary school in south Wales has announced plans to fine parents £120 if their children are persistently late. Penygarn Community Primary School in Torfaen will issue fixed penalty notices to tackle ongoing attendance problems, headteacher Lindsay Smith confirmed.
In a letter to parents, Smith warned that inadequate attendance—whether through full absences or chronic lateness—would trigger fines from the local council. The penalty is reduced to £60 if paid within 28 days, and failure to pay could result in court action. Fines may apply after a pupil misses morning and afternoon registers for five days, equivalent to ten sessions, or for five or more unauthorised days in a term.
Torfaen council's director of education, Andrew Powles, said the fixed penalty option is available to all schools, but each governing body decides whether to adopt it. He added: 'Schools have a legal duty to accurately record attendance... Being routinely late is disruptive for the child and others in their class.'
Torfaen, once among Wales' lowest for attendance, now ranks sixth. Primary attendance averages 93.1%, up from previous years but below the pre-pandemic level of 94.8%. Secondary attendance stands at 89.1%, also improved but still below 93.9% in 2019-20.
Persistently absent pupils—those with attendance below 90%—have decreased in both primary and secondary schools. Education leaders project a return to pre-pandemic levels within five to seven years, placing Torfaen ahead of other areas.
