Councils have chosen not to take court action in almost 2,000 cases where parents have not paid absence fines, with thousands more left unresolved, new analysis shows. The government established a national framework for issuing enforcement of penalty notices (PNs) in August 2024 to address the unequal use of absence fines across different areas. But recent research by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) found a “postcode lottery” in issuing absence fines remains – with 15 councils making no prosecutions for non-payment of fines altogether. Become a member for unlimited access to Schools Week subscribe Our members enjoy early access to exclusive content and in-depth articles before anyone else. Get expert journalism, experience fewer ads, and unlock a growing range of member benefits.