One promise to tip the General Election?

mycommunitynet
Apr 24, 2015
2 min read

In 2013, Parents Want a Say collected more than 200,000 signatures for their campaign against the school holidays ruling, which prevents families taking children out of term-time classes except under “exceptional circumstances”. The Department for Education has failed to clarify what these circumstances are, and parents face a fine of at least £60 for breaking the law or a court summons if they fail to pay up.

Using the MyCommunity.net online survey platform, we’ve worked with the PWAS team to engage more than 3,000 UK residents for their views on the ban.

The results are in. Parliamentary candidates, listen up.

97% of those we surveyed oppose the law. 83% believe the ban on term-time holidays should be abolished and 63% have been or will be negatively affected by the law. Only 4% believe the current system of fines is fair.

Just 3% of those consulted believe term-time holidays are detrimental to a child’s academic performance and wellbeing – the government’s official justification for the holiday law. This being so, 76% of respondents would like to know why private schools are not covered by the ban.

Nearly half (38%) of respondents believe the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition is responsible for the law. 10% – the highest proportion – say Labour would be the party most likely to amend the law. Meanwhile, Shadow Education Secretary and Labour MP Tristram Hunt has said his party would not change the term-time holiday law if given the chance.

This is where things get really interesting. According to our survey, 64% of the UK public would change their May 7 vote to a party that promises to change the holiday law. Many of these voters live in Pudsey, Milton Keynes South, Lincoln, Norwich North and High Peak; marginal wards which could ‘swing’ from Conservative to Labour representation in the upcoming election.

The message is clear. Reforming the term-time holiday ban is a surefire vote-winner.

Your move, Ed, Dave and Nick....

To read the complete survey report, click here. To find out more about the Parents Want a Say campaign, visit parentswantasay.co.uk.

MyCommunity is the online engagement platform, hosting free surveys for communities of all types and sizes. To find out more about what we do, click here.