A dad who took his 14-year-old daughter out of school to attend D-Day commemorations in France has been fined.
Neil Young said he contacted St Anselm’s Catholic School in Canterbury, Kent, to inform them that he would be taking Emily to France for the D-Day 80th anniversary.
After not hearing back from the institution, he assumed that there was no issue with Emily missing class.
However, he received a call from an attendance officer two days after arriving in Normandy to ask why his daughter had not attended school.
A dad who took his 14-year-old daughter out of school to attend D-Day commemorations in France has been finedGetty/ Google mapsThe school later sent an email notifying him that the absence was unauthorised and that a decision would be made on whether to issue £60 fines to him and his wife, Annette.
"It was a bit of a blow and was not what we were expecting," he told Kent Online.
"I am disappointed in the school for being like this. She had 100 per cent attendance last year and this year so far."
During the trip, a plaque for Emily’s great-grandfather was laid near the Standing for Giants installation.
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Young said his family were invited to the "once in a lifetime" trip by the Invicta Military Preservation Society.
The military vehicle restorer argued that it "wasn’t a trip to Spain" and "every day was educational".
He added that "Emily wants to do history as a GCSE" before branding the school "disgraceful".
Kent County Council sent penalty notices to the Youngs' home this week, demanding they pay £60 within 21 days, or face an increased fine of £120.
Young challenged the decision with assistant headteacher Harriet Holmes.
The military vehicle restorer argued that it 'wasn’t a trip to Spain' and 'every day was educational'
PAShe replied: "I understand you are upset regarding the decision of the school to not authorise this event.
"I recognise that this is a fantastic opportunity for Emily, however, unfortunately the decision not to authorise this is due to Emily not being a direct part in the activities listed above.
"Although she is experiencing these she is not required to attend and therefore we cannot authorise the absence from her education."
Despite Holmes clearing stating the school's stance on June 4, she now blames an "administrative error" for the fines.
"The parents are not being fined as this was an administrative error that has been rectified," she said.
"Whilst we are carrying out Kent County Council policy, we do acknowledge these are exceptional circumstances and have reviewed the coding."
