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Original poster

Summer holidays should be longer

835 replies

noblegiraffe · 21/07/2025 09:24

Our kids have the shortest summer holidays in Europe, Italy have 13 weeks, even Ireland has 9.

They're under pressure so much at school they need more time to just be kids. Classrooms are so hot in the last few weeks of term that it's impossible to learn effectively anyway.

I think we should add at least an extra two weeks to the summer holidays, so break up near the start of July. This would bring us more into line with private schools too.

And with longer holidays it might help recruit and retain teachers, and reduce competition for summer annual leave slots for working parents. It could even reduce the cost of holidays as 'peak season' would be longer.

Summer holidays should be longer
OP posts:
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13
zeibesaffron · 21/07/2025 19:27

noblegiraffe · 21/07/2025 09:29

Does anyone know how much annual leave people get in other countries? How do the Irish cover it, for example?

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In my Nephews family (he lives in Spain with his Spanish wife and family) - school holidays are covered by holiday clubs that are not anywhere near as expensive as here and family - her grandparents and parents and aunts and uncles all support them. I don’t have any other experience of this so I am not saying it’s true every where.

6/7 weeks is too long - we don’t have the infrastructure for it. Holiday clubs fees are really expensive, many grandparents are still having to work to get by! Most people can’t afford holiday clubs, nursery fees and days out!! There are loads of campaigns to ensure kids (with nothing) eat properly in the summer holidays - it is a nightmare for many, many parents! On top of that the average amount of annual leave is 25 days - it just doesn’t add up.

The big thing for me is that families with absolutely nothing are hit the hardest.

2 weeks in June or Oct may be easier for some.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 21/07/2025 19:27

I'm too busy looking at the fees. Bloody hell.

OP posts:
twistyizzy · 21/07/2025 19:25

noblegiraffe · 21/07/2025 19:24

Looking at Marlborough term dates they are barely in school...break up for Christmas on 10th December!!

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But look at the total contact hours!

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 21/07/2025 19:24

Sammyspurs · 21/07/2025 19:19

Marlborough college do lessons on Saturday mornings and sport in the afternoon….

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Looking at Marlborough term dates they are barely in school...break up for Christmas on 10th December!!

OP posts:
twistyizzy · 21/07/2025 19:24

TwoFeralKids · 21/07/2025 19:07

Plus they can make the most of cheaper holidays yet the poorer parents can't.

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FYI 25% of kids in independent schools are from lower income families and nearly 30% get fee assistance
Don't let your bigoted prejudice get in the way though

linsey2581 · 21/07/2025 19:23

T1Dmom · 21/07/2025 09:27

No chance, six weeks is to long. If anything it should start at the beginning of July (or even the last week of June) and go back mid August when its cooled down.
My kids are bored by the third week in!

I would much more prefer a week added to Christmas & a week added to October half term and cut the summer hoildays into 4 weeks though.

Edited

That’s when the Scottish school holidays are.

twistyizzy · 21/07/2025 19:23

TwoFeralKids · 21/07/2025 19:07

Plus they can make the most of cheaper holidays yet the poorer parents can't.

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Because our children are in school until 5pm weekdays and then Saturday mornings! So they get longer holidays.
I reckon if state schools brought those hours in you would be up in arms

twistyizzy · 21/07/2025 19:22

noblegiraffe · 21/07/2025 19:11

Sporting fixtures isn't school...you don't get to break up early from school because you did extra cricket.

I've just googled a bunch of private schools and none run lessons on Saturdays, just extracurricular activities.

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Oh well just because you've googled 🙄

DDs independent school has lessons on a Saturday 8.45am-12.30pm then sports fixtures all afternoon

Sammyspurs · 21/07/2025 19:19

noblegiraffe · 21/07/2025 19:11

Sporting fixtures isn't school...you don't get to break up early from school because you did extra cricket.

I've just googled a bunch of private schools and none run lessons on Saturdays, just extracurricular activities.

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Marlborough college do lessons on Saturday mornings and sport in the afternoon….

fffiona · 21/07/2025 19:18

Increased holidays is often mentioned for teacher retention but might well work against other professions with staffing gaps - e.g nursing and midwifery - inflexible shifts, no working from home and poor pay. And there is no chance of their holiday entitlement being increased as they won’t have the cover.

Sammyspurs · 21/07/2025 19:16

TwoFeralKids · 21/07/2025 19:07

Plus they can make the most of cheaper holidays yet the poorer parents can't.

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I’m a poor parent- my child’s in a fully funded school place- there’s 150 kids in his school. Only 4 places are paid for by the parent.
not all parents who send their child to private school are rich. So no, in answer to your question I don’t benefit for ‘cheaper holidays either’ nor do lots of other people

Mcoco · 21/07/2025 19:16

noblegiraffe · 21/07/2025 10:10

But Italy is the extreme, and I didn’t say that we should have 13 weeks in my OP but 8. A modest increase that would remove us from the bottom of the table (where we also are on child mental health and engagement with school).

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I agree OP 8 weeks would be perfect.

LlynTegid · 21/07/2025 19:12

Given the level of inequality we have and the chaotic nature of some families, I don't think it would be a good idea.

I'd be in favour of shorter ones and two week half terms, were it not such that it will increase holiday prices in the summer.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 21/07/2025 19:11

Fogey · 21/07/2025 18:54

Thats just one school … 16 years working at a private senior school it was different … my experience tells me 100% that private secondary schools play their sporting fixtures on a Saturday afternoon… lessons in the morning… and teaching staff are expected to drive mini-buses and umpire games… it’s a 6 day week for teachers and pupils.

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Sporting fixtures isn't school...you don't get to break up early from school because you did extra cricket.

I've just googled a bunch of private schools and none run lessons on Saturdays, just extracurricular activities.

OP posts:
Sammyspurs · 21/07/2025 19:09

noblegiraffe · 21/07/2025 09:40

Private school parents get cheap summer deals while state school kids are still slogging away. I'm sure they wouldn't want to lose that.

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Slogging away? You know private school children do much longer school hours so they do get longer holidays right? Our SEN private school is 08:30-1645 for example

LavenderHaze19 · 21/07/2025 19:08

DrCoconut · 21/07/2025 19:05

That's an awful idea. It's cold, wet and dark early in October and extra time off would feel like a waste being stuck indoors most of the time and everything on winter hours. I'd like to see the summer holiday being brought earlier in England, perhaps more like Scotland as the weather is usually best when they are still at school and on the decline by mid August.

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Does that make the winter term even longer then? How is it broken up?

JIMER202 · 21/07/2025 19:08

noblegiraffe · 21/07/2025 09:29

Does anyone know how much annual leave people get in other countries? How do the Irish cover it, for example?

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Having lived for a time in the U.S, where children get around 12 weeks off and parents get even less annual leave than the UK, they often do day camps if both parents are working, summer camps, grandparent help/sending the children to grandparents if they live far away, teachers nanny over the holidays if they want to etc. It’s normal there.

TwoFeralKids · 21/07/2025 19:08

DrCoconut · 21/07/2025 19:05

That's an awful idea. It's cold, wet and dark early in October and extra time off would feel like a waste being stuck indoors most of the time and everything on winter hours. I'd like to see the summer holiday being brought earlier in England, perhaps more like Scotland as the weather is usually best when they are still at school and on the decline by mid August.

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Really? Often the best weather is right at the end of August into September.

TwoFeralKids · 21/07/2025 19:07

Sammyspurs · 21/07/2025 19:04

As a private school parent I’ll readily say that private schools have TOO MUCH time off not only during summer (8 weeks) but also Easter (3 weeks) October half term (2 weeks) Christmas (3 weeks) then May half term too
those of us who work really struggle with finding childcare arrangements as they often don’t start before state schools break up. I only get 20 days leave a year!

Plus they can make the most of cheaper holidays yet the poorer parents can't.

LavenderHaze19 · 21/07/2025 19:06

Agapornis · 21/07/2025 13:15

Weeks per year map for people who like balance. Turns out the UK is perfectly average.

Source https://jakubmarian.com/school-holidays-by-country-in-europe-map/

Edited

Thanks for sharing this.

Gymbunny2025 · 21/07/2025 19:06

DrCoconut · 21/07/2025 19:05

That's an awful idea. It's cold, wet and dark early in October and extra time off would feel like a waste being stuck indoors most of the time and everything on winter hours. I'd like to see the summer holiday being brought earlier in England, perhaps more like Scotland as the weather is usually best when they are still at school and on the decline by mid August.

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Agree I’d like the Scottish summer holidays too

TwoFeralKids · 21/07/2025 19:06

The autumn term is so long. Taking away the October half term would be stupid. Also a lot of these holidays are based on Christian feasts/ farm days.

Mcoco · 21/07/2025 19:06

Pinkywoo · 21/07/2025 09:32

But Italy don't have half terms or bank holiday Mondays, and only a few days for Easter and Christmas. The UK way is much better.

Yes actually we have the same amount of holiday as they do in Italy but ours are split up over the term. Italian parents complain about the 3 months summer holiday especially if they are working.

DrCoconut · 21/07/2025 19:05

LavenderHaze19 · 21/07/2025 19:00

Sorry if this has been mentioned - I’ve not RTFT - but in my county they are knocking a week off the summer holidays and adding it to the October half term, making a two week October half term and a 5 week summer holidays. It’s taking effect from September 2026.

The LEA say the data indicates that a) some children are very disadvantaged by the long summer break and b) there’s a high level of staff and child absence in the second half of the winter term. They’re hoping that breaking up the long winter term more will reduce the absence.

Personally I’m largely indifferent as it’s the same amount of holiday and education overall, just distributed differently, but it’s interesting that some LEAs are shortening the summer holidays rather than lengthening them on the basis of the data available.

That's an awful idea. It's cold, wet and dark early in October and extra time off would feel like a waste being stuck indoors most of the time and everything on winter hours. I'd like to see the summer holiday being brought earlier in England, perhaps more like Scotland as the weather is usually best when they are still at school and on the decline by mid August.

Sammyspurs · 21/07/2025 19:04

As a private school parent I’ll readily say that private schools have TOO MUCH time off not only during summer (8 weeks) but also Easter (3 weeks) October half term (2 weeks) Christmas (3 weeks) then May half term too
those of us who work really struggle with finding childcare arrangements as they often don’t start before state schools break up. I only get 20 days leave a year!

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