FINES which were handed out to 85 parents in Oxfordshire for taking their children out of school without authorisation are set to continue.

On Thursday the Supreme Court ruled against a father who was fined for taking his daughter to Florida during term time.

In Oxfordshire in the 2015/16 school year 85 parents were issued with fixed penalty notices (FNPs) for unauthorised term time absences.

Of these 21 parents were prosecuted for not paying the £60 fine.

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Owen Morton said: “The Supreme Court ruling appears to confirm the legitimacy of the approach being taken by schools in Oxfordshire and elsewhere, whereby headteachers have the flexibility to make judgements about a child’s attendance and determine when a warning notice or a fine is an appropriate course of action, in line with national guidance.

“The council only issues warning notices or fines at the request of individual schools.”

Windmill Primary School in Headington does not fine parents who take their children out of class.

Headteacher Lynn Knapp said: “Our governors decided that it sets up a problem between us and the parents.

“We want to work in partnership with parents and many parents will take their children out anyway, because the fine compared to having to pay more for a holiday during holiday time is a drop in the ocean.

“I understand why families do it.

“I think the holiday industry needs to look at what it can do to redress the huge difference in prices because that is the main reason why parents take their children out.”

Mrs Knapp added that she does authorise absences for exceptional circumstances such as family weddings and funerals.

The Supreme Court’s ruling made clear that parents in England can be fined if their children miss school without the agreement of the headteacher.

But school such as Windmill can continue to choose not to issue fines.