According to a report from Gocompare.com, nearly a quarter of UK families with school age children have or are considering a holiday during school term as they say this could save an average of £664.00 on their holiday spending.

The average British family spends just under £2,000 on their annual holiday.

The report found parents were happy for their children to miss around six days of school to get a cheaper holiday package.

Nearly three quarters of these families ask the school for permission to take their children out of school, although nearly the same amount say that they will still take their children on a holiday even if the school refuses.

Nearly 40% have confessed to lying to their school about their children’s absence in order to have a holiday during term time.

Jeremy Cryer, head of travel at Gocompare.com, said: “It’s an unfortunate fact that the cost of holidays and flights increase substantially during school holiday periods.

“This leaves many parents with the difficult decision of whether to take their children out of school to take advantage of lower prices or to bite the bullet and pay the school holiday rates. With an average cost saving of over £600 it’s clear to see why many parents choose to take the saving over the schooling.

“Many parents would also argue that a child’s education should be more than just time spent in the classroom and that travel broadens a child’s horizons, gives them valuable family time and adds to their life experience.

“If it comes down to a choice between their children missing a few days of school or the family missing out on a holiday altogether, our research shows that millions of parents would choose to take the holiday.”

The research also found that 93% of parents willing to take their children out of school feel that travel companies and airlines unfairly push up prices during the school holiday periods and 65% say they simply can’t afford to take a holiday when schools are closed.