A DAD took his daughter out of school for a historic event her teacher said was "amazing" - but has now been hit by a £60 fine.
Kent man Neil Young took his daughter Emily to Normandy for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
Neil said he told St Anselm's Catholic School in Canterbury a month in advance - and assumed they were all set after getting no reply.
But two days into the "once in a lifetime trip" an attendance officer rang Neil asking why Emily had not showed up at school.
He forwarded the email requesting leave - and relaxed when he got a reply calling the trip an "amazing opportunity".
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A member of staff added: "I hope Emily and yourselves enjoy the experience and get a lot out of it."
But the next day Neil got another email - telling him the absence had not been authorised and he faced a £60 fine.
He told the Kent Messenger: "It was no holiday and every day was educational.
"It wasn’t a trip to Spain where we sat on the beach and did nothing.
"Emily wants to do history as a GCSE. I think it is disgraceful the school has done this."
Neil works as a mechanic restoring military vehicles and was invited to the D-Day commemoration by a Second World War history society.
In his email requesting leave for Emily, Neil told the school it was a "educational and historic trip".
He said: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Emily and us to meet and thank the last remaining veterans.
"We would be a part of history at such an iconic landmark year, and such opportunities cannot be missed.
Neil added: "This year could be the last year any D-Day veterans may see."
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The family visited D-Day museums, three different war cemeteries and a number of memorials on the trip.
They also met surviving D-Day veterans and laid a plaque for Emily's great-grandfather at the British Normandy Memorial.
Neil challenged the school's decision - only to get an email from the assistant head teacher.
It read: "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 was 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."
A penalty notice landed on the family's doormat this week - giving them 21 days to pay £60 before the fine is doubled.
But the school appears to have made a U-turn, telling the Kent Messenger the fine was an "administrative error".
A spokesperson said: "The parents are not being fined as this was an administrative error that has been rectified.
"We are carrying out Kent County Council policy but acknowledge these are exceptional circumstances and have reviewed the coding."
Kent County Council said GDPR rules prevent it from discussing individual fines.
Under current rules, head teachers decide whether leave is authorised in exceptional circumstances.
The council is obliged to issue fines requested by a school as long as it complies with the code of conduct.
