Why are parents in Devon more likely to be fined for taking their kids on a term time holiday?
Unbeknownst to many, there's a postcode lottery across the South West that dictates whether parents will be fined for taking their children on holiday during term time.>If you live in Cornwall the chances are you won't be fined - in fact only a handful of people have been penalised - but in Devon it's a different story - nearly 2,000 parents have been fined.
A Devon couple have refused to pay a fine imposed for taking their children out of school to go on holiday - as figures reveal the number of parents fined has doubled in the county in the last year.
Emma and Jo Clarke from Exeter face court next month after they took their children off for five days in September. Their trip was classed as unauthorised.>They say they are making a stand against rules which state parents mustn't take children out of school during term time.
Earlier this year in May, Emma and Jo got married in Cyprus, a trip that was allowed. But their recent trip to Majorca in September, wasn't.
The council says it's up to schools to use their discretion as to when leave in term time is acceptable.