A £120 FINE issued to the parents of a Harefield Academy pupil after they took their son on holiday during term-time is justified, says principal Lynn Gadd.

John and Lin Styles, who removed their son, Liam, from school for four days in December, were fined £60 each. Liam had previously received a certificate for 100 per cent attendance.

Mrs Gadd told the Gazette: “This is no judgment on the boy, but that’s not the issue. Days can’t be taken off all over the place. It might seem harsh, but it adds up and we have to be consistent.”

The family said they needed a holiday as Mrs Styles was recovering from stomach surgery after fighting cancer, and Mr Styles had recently undergone knee surgery. They were also looking after Liam’s grandfather, who has dementia, and his sick grandmother, who had Alzheimer’s disease and died on February 23, it was reported.

They attempted to speak to the school before paying the fine, but received a letter from Hillingdon Council saying it would be doubled and they could be taken to court if they did not pay.

Mr Styles was quoted in the press as saying: “I really think this is wrong. I think it’s so unfair because my son has never had to be forced to go to school. He loves it. I’m disgusted by the school.”

Mrs Gadd said she was sympathetic to families who see a huge rise in flight prices during school holidays, but insists the rules must be the same for all students.

“It is not right to take students out of school at any time and we say ‘no’ to everyone,” she said.

“We can’t run a school where families take a week off in the middle of term-time; it doesn’t work like that.”