I'm going to make an example of you, Mr Tompkins

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I am not a parent or a teacher, so no doubt I take the problem of unauthorised absence from school too lightly.

But I have always been uneasy at the idea of headteachers having the power to fine parents over this issue - and there are those who would like to see this power applied more widely.

I also note that a system that has rather retreated from punishing children in recent decades has taken happily to punishing parents.