A dad has been told to pay a £120 fine for his children taking a term-time holiday he didn't even know about. Dad of two Matthew Beale was issued with the fine after the children went for a six-week holiday to Australia with his estranged partner - their mum.
Because his name is on the birth certificate, he says appeals to rescind the fine have led nowhere. Matthew says he will have to borrow money from friends or family - leaving him 'out of pocket' for three months as he pays back the debt in instalments.
The mum, who was visiting family abroad for the first time since the pandemic, has also been fined the same amount.
