Summer holidays should be longer

Only some parts of the UK would likely need air con, not all of the schools. Plenty of threads discussing the weather show that many regions didn’t get particularly hot and some heat issues are from the structures themselves being built to keep heat in, not the outdoor weather.

Plus, if they’re going to be hot at school, they’re likely going to be hot at home since most homes don’t have ac either.

No way I’m in Scotland my kids get 2 weeks at Xmas, 1 week in Feb, 2 weeks at Easter 6.5 weeks in summer and 2 weeks in October plus occasional/bank holidays! There’s already more than enough!!

Absolutely! I would bloody love it. Less vile school runs, less chance to run into one of the really nasty teachers, less chance of bumping into a horrible PTFA mum.
Plus, more time with my children, so we can focus on their mental health and physical wellbeing.

What percentage of schools in the UK have aircon in classrooms?

Private schools do longer days, more homework and often Saturday mornings. Be careful what you wish for.
As fir holiday companies reducing prices as the summer holidays are longer - well that’s a very naive view, it’ll just be an extra two weeks of expensive holidays.

I'm sorry, but have to disagree. I can't begin to speak for A-level teachers, but as a primary school teacher who has many friends who are both primary school and senior school teachers, I believe there is plenty of time to prepare. I worked in the private sector previously and as a teacher I have far more time after marking, lesson plans etc than I did in the private sector where there was a lot more pressure (not true of every job obviously). I love my job and I do my absolute best for the children in my care. I genuinely believe the children, as well as the teachers would benefit more from having holiday balanced throughout the year.

The timing of the heatwave in 2002 was as you highlight during school term time, and it remains the hottest day recorded in England. Most schools have air conditioning now, and even I have had inconstant home!

Although incredibly warm, is it actually more challenging than in the winter months when parents and children brave snow and ice to go to a cold classroom, and A&E are filled with fractures from children and parents, who will also have faced flu, colds and the winter vomiting bug?

We live in a country with a variable climate, and claiming that children shouldn’t attend school due to inclement weather would see them attend school for such a short time it would affect their education.

My choice because main stream CANNOT meet need- therefore nowhere else for them to go- except for a specialist independent private school- my child would much rather be ‘normal’ and working at the same level as his age group however this is not the case-
so no, it’s not my choice I was left with no choice. As the schools, specialists and local authority could not place him in a school other than a specialist independent private school type.

Excellent response. Am with you 100%. Parents stop feeling sorry for yourselves … if you don’t teach … you don’t know. Well said madsciencecovid2020.

If you have no choice … and genuinely sorry if your children have special needs, you can’t complain about it. It is still your choice.

Unfortunately- main stream can’t meet need. Hence why they go to private school. Thanks for your input though

Exactly!

I’m presuming OP that you would have no issues with childcare or taking annual leave and for people like that of course it would be great for the kids if they were experiencing positive activities as a result. But for a large proportion of children it would not be like that. For me it would just mean putting my children in holiday clubs for an extra 2 weeks which is extortion. And my kids actually enjoy school so I’d rather them just go to their own school for free! If it’s too hot I’m sure they don’t do much ‘learning anyway’. My son came home recently and said they’d had a water fight in school. He’d had a blast, I think his mental health is fine despite having to go to school in the heat. I’d be more concerned about the mental health of children who would be stuck at home for an extra 2 weeks, bored, parents stressed at having to find money for an extra 2 weeks. And those who live in abusive households. It’s not as simple as improving children’s services. I say that as someone who works in children’s services. You need to think about the bigger picture, not just think about those who are fortunate not to have to worry about these things. I think Covid and children not being in school has had a huge impact on mental health so I don’t think being in school is the concern

@Madsciencecovid2020

but many occupations do all of this (ok different job but equally difficult) and still get just 28 days off a year including bank holidays and paid less and worse pensions. It’s not a race to the bottom and don’t begrudge teachers their pay nor summer holidays but this idea that’s they need such long holidays to recuperate when the rest of us never ever get more than 2 weeks off at a time and still have to deal with juggling dc etc grates!

@MellowPinkDeer

i get 33 but statutory minimum is 28 days, very common alas.

6 weeks is plenty as far as holidays goes

Either you didn't read what OP wrote, or you did, and your so completely lacking in empathy that you chose to ignore it. Either way, yes, quite clearly OP is saying that due to the ridiculous workload of teaching, she needs a holiday.

Habe you data showing that countries with longer school holidays have higher levels of unemployment/benefits claimants?

Adults have to work under pressure and are only entitled to shorter hols. Why do kids need the extra time? They'll have to get used to adult work patterns sooner or later. Unless, of course, they have a lifetime on benefits.

Possibly in the public sector! In the private sector in the UK the average is 22-26 days. Which many people don't take.

Are you suggesting the holidays teachers get aren’t long enough already?!

That is country specific - it would be ridiculous for the UK to shut down for 2 months as most recent Summer holidays have been average temperature. We also have an economy that needs every bit of help now. What works in one country wont work in another.

Also, in an already divided society, it would be putting parents against each other ‘oh I work for an essential company so im entitled to that holiday club place more than you’.

It is far better to consult teachers and parents and see how we can best divide the holidays up in 2025 to fit with modern day life and what’s best all round.

I would rather shorten the summer holidays to 4 weeks and extend the other holidays so they get longer breaks throughout the year.

Just speaking personally for my children they really struggle with the long break, even now as teenagers. They thrive on routine, and expectations. Many kids who have mental health issues, SEN, anxiety etc also need the routine daily school life brings.

Im sure children's mental health issues are related to their home lives more than school lives. We have high levels of poverty, high welfare bills, cost of living crisis, stressed parents trying to keep their heads above water, a drug culture of "just a bit of weed" leading to mentally unwell parents (mostly men), broken homes, the list goes on. I dont think its realistic to blame kids poor mental health on a short summer break.

My son had disastrous mental health, caused by lockdown and the behaviour of his school and teachers. Many kids are still trying to process their missing formulative years courtesy of the pandemic. Being 2 weeks shorter on their summer is not the cause..