AN angry dad has written to his children's schools to demand striking teachers are fined -after he was told he may be fined for taking his family on a term-time holiday.
Wesley Joyce says he will refuse to pay any fine for taking his children out of school, pointing out he wouldn't be able to afford the trip in the summer holidays.
And Mr Joyce has also written to his children's schools - using similar phrasing to the letter he received - saying he will 'fine' any of his children's teachers if they take part in the ongoing national strike action.
He says it's "double standards" because a strike could mean his children miss a day at school.
The 42-year-old said last month he approached his children's schools - Tudor Grange Primary Academy Perdiswell where Hallie attends and Christopher Whitehead Language College where Jai-Jai attends - asking permission for an authorised absence to take the children on holiday but his request was refused.
Mr Joyce said: "I told them, 'sorry we are going'.
"It is impossible to afford a holiday in the summer holidays - it is £5,000 extra."
Mr Joyce said the family including his wife, two children and two stepchildren, went to Turkey with the children taken out of school for 10 days.
But when he got home he received a letter informing him he may be fined.
The letter from Christopher Whitehead said: "If you decide to go ahead with the proposed absence Jai-Jai will be marked unauthorised.
"I should inform you that the unauthorised absence may be referred to the Local Authority who may, under certain circumstances, consider issuing you with a penalty notice or other legal action."
A similar letter was also received from Tudor Grange which said an unauthorised absence can lead to a penalty notice of £120.
"I'm not paying the fine," Mr Joyce said.
"I've told them if you get me in front of the court that is exactly what I want - I can express my feelings about this that way."
In the letter Mr Joyce has sent the school, the Lansdowne Walk resident, writes: "I will not authorise strike action because I am not satisfied that exceptional circumstances exist.
"If you decide to go ahead your absence will be noted as pathetic.
"As a parent, I am asked to inform you that unauthorised strike action may be subject to a penalty notice."
Mr Joyce told us: "I do understand they are in dispute with the government, but in two weeks they are off for six weeks - why can't they strike then?
"You are punishing everyone else having to find child care while they are off - it is a complete double standard.
"I am making a point in saying now I'm going to fine you - who says I can't?"
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Neil Morris, headteacher of Christopher Whitehead Language College, said: "Mr Joyce may be fined for taking his child out for 10 days.
"The child will have crucial exams in 32 weeks."
However, the headteacher said he was sympathetic to parents facing a cost of living crisis.
"Maybe the government should be looking at what the travel companies charge in the summer holidays - we have been saying that for a long time," he said.
On the strike action, the headteacher said he could understand why teachers were striking, adding he was losing good teachers to the private sector where they could earn more.
A spokesperson for Tudor Grange Primary Academy Perdiswell said it could not comment on the matter at this time.
Worcestershire County Council was contacted for comment.
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