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Parents the U.K. face being punished if their children are continually late school. Britain's Education Secretary Michael Gove has announced he will crack on what he terms "problem parents". He said too many families fail to "face to their responsibilities" by ensuring their children get to school time, and are "ready to learn and show respect their teacher". Parents are already slapped a £60 ($90) fine if their child is repeatedly late for school. However, 20,000 of these penalties were unpaid last year, prompting Mr Gove to announce a tougher penalty system. There will also be fines parents who withdraw their children term time to take them cheaper family vacations.

Mr Gove said his plans were all part raising standards education, creating a bigger incentive parents to ensure their children get to school, and tackling the problem "habitual truancy". Gove also hit at his critics, accusing them adhering to policies that set pupils to fail and of promoting "a diet dumbed-down courses". He said opposition politicians shied away " anything which might require grit". Gove warned their policies would send children school "without daring to think they might be intellectually curious and capable greatness, denying them access to anything stretching or ambitious, and setting expectations so low you can never be surprised someone's potential".