Pay a penalty notice for school attendance
The fine is £60 if you pay within 21 days of the penalty notice issue date, which is on the penalty notice letter.
The amount rises to £120 if you do not pay within 21 days. If you do not pay the fine after 28 days you may be prosecuted for your child's absence from school.
Penalty notices issued from 19 August 2024
For penalty notices issued from 19 August 2024, the fine will increase to £80 if you pay within 21 days of the penalty notice issue date.
This amount rises to £160 if you do not pay within 21 days. If you do not pay the fine after 28 days you may be prosecuted for your child's absence from school.
For a second penalty notice, the fine is £160. If you do not pay the fine after 28 days you may be prosecuted for your child's absence from school.
Pay your penalty notice online
To pay online you will need:
a debit or credit card
the penalty notice number
the penalty notice start date
You can find this information on your penalty notice letter.
Please note that payment in part or by instalment is not available for penalty notices. There is no statutory right of appeal once a notice has been issued.
We reserve the right to refuse to accept and/or return any late or part payment of a penalty notice.
Code of Conduct
All penalty notices are issued in accordance with a local code of conduct drawn up by us. If you have any questions about the penalty notice or the code of conduct, please contact us.
Withdrawal
A penalty notice may be withdrawn if:
it should not have been issued to you
it has not been issued to you in accordance with the local code of conduct
it contains material errors
If you believe that the penalty notice was wrongly issued, contact our Legal Intervention Team as soon as possible. Ask for the penalty notice to be withdrawn, and tell us why you believe it was incorrectly issued.
We will review your request, then we will contact you to let you know if the penalty notice will be withdrawn.
Prosecution
If you do not pay the penalty, and the penalty notice is not withdrawn, you will be prosecuted for the offence of failing to ensure your child's regular attendance at school.
Contact us
Legal Intervention Team
Gateshead Civic Centre (Floor 2)
Regent Street
Gateshead
NE8 1HH
0191 433 3000