Private schools extra holidays - how does this not harm outcomes

255 replies

Eranie · 15/02/2025 00:27

Looking at 3 private schools around us at the primary level.

School 1 -
8 weeks summer
1 week October
3 weeks Christmas
1 week February
3 weeks Easter
1 week May

17 weeks total

School 2 -
8 weeks summer
1 week October
2 weeks Christmas
1 week February
2 weeks Easter
1 week May

15 weeks total

School 3 -
6 weeks summer
2 weeks October
2 weeks Christmas
1 week February
2 weeks Easter
1 week May

14 weeks total

All these schools seem to be very good academically. All have similar length school days (8.45-3.15 in infants, 8.45-3.30 in juniors). The one with the most holidays caps class sizes at 16 and guarantees a TA present at all times in infants and over 50% of the time in juniors. Others seem to cap class sizes at 20-22, not sure if a TA is always present.

AIBU to wonder how the school with 3 week end of term breaks is keeping academically which so much less time? Does anyone have any insight on this?

I don’t work so we can handle the long breaks and we live the facilities better at the school with the longer breaks (further out of the city so has more land, therefore tennis courts/pool/better playing grounds. However I’m concerned that with longer breaks they will fall behind academically?

OP posts:

CaledonianSleeper · 15/02/2025 00:41

Typically the days are longer; roughly 8am til 4pm core hours and 5pm finish with clubs or sports (that’s in prep, I think clubs and sports go later in senior school).

Newmeagain · 15/02/2025 00:41

Longer school days, focused teaching, very little disruptive behaviour, lots of homework.

Tinyhousemoouse · 15/02/2025 00:41

Smaller class sizes and better ta provision. At primary age a lot of learning happens outside of the classroom too. Having time and attention in the family setting makes a huge difference.

LameBorzoi · 15/02/2025 00:37

Because kids learn when they are ready.

Anewyearanewday · 15/02/2025 00:35

What are the starting/finishing times of the schools. Do they play sports during the day or outside school hours?

I would choose your preferred school regardless of the holidays.

In my kid's school, they seem to spend a lot of time playing sports and doing extra curricular activities during school hours (which I am fully on board with by the way as I think they are as important as academic work).

During covid, I remember reading that spending a couple of hours a day homeschooling was the equivalent of a full day at school when breaks/extra curricular activities etc were removed.

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