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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
Sophiehoney · 22/07/2025 13:06

noblegiraffe · 22/07/2025 13:05

Well done! Grin Would you prefer a maoam, a sticker or a house point?

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I'd like a sticker please 😁

SkintSingleMumm · 22/07/2025 13:06

I agree and disagree! Yes as a parent school holidays are traumatic from getting the time off work/childcare/expensive clubs/keeping them entertained/days out etc BUT i do think 6 weeks is good and needed gor the children. However having 25 days holiday in your job to cover around 64 days of school holiday over the entire school year is insane.

my kids have always gone to s mixture of holiday clubs @£20 a day (830am-330pm heres the thing, i work 9-5? How does that work, it doesn’t), my annual leave, grandparents in their 70s helping out.

i do think a floating week during the school year for families to go abroad on a more affordable holiday would work.

i do think that affordable holiday clubs 8am to 6pm should be available. Keeps minds occupied whilst being less informal than the school day

idk i just think that also the whole set up is one where they are expecting one parent doesnt work and the 845am-315pm school day is acceptable. Its out dated now with majority of parent working 9-5 plus commuting time

plus whilst im on a rant, they need more SEN schools and alternative provision units for those who are unable to attend mainstream schools. Its ridiculous in 2025 that they often punish and exclude adhd and autistic children as they are unable to accommodate them in their settings therefore the child is missing out on years of education in some cases/stain on parents inable to work etc

rant over!

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 22/07/2025 13:05

Sophiehoney · 22/07/2025 13:03

7×2 = 14
14 x 25 = 350
9-8=1
Take the 1 away from the 350

😁😁😁 what did I win????

Well done! Grin Would you prefer a maoam, a sticker or a house point?

OP posts:
Sophiehoney · 22/07/2025 13:04

noblegiraffe · 22/07/2025 12:56

Might as well get some use out of it then

Show quote history

7×2 = 14
14 x 25 = 350
9-8=1
Take the 1 away from the 350

😁😁😁 what did I win????

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 22/07/2025 13:03

Needmorelego · 22/07/2025 13:02

Yes but my idea was based on the concept of having a longer summer holiday (your suggestion 😂) so the half-term breaks wouldn't exist.
But this would give children a "brain break" during the school term.
I know it will never happen.

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Half term breaks would still exist, see Ireland for details!

OP posts:
Sophiehoney · 22/07/2025 13:03

7×2 = 14
14 x 25 = 350
9-8=1
Take the 1 away from the 350

😁😁😁 what did I win????

Needmorelego · 22/07/2025 13:02

noblegiraffe · 22/07/2025 12:58

That's what the holidays are for!!

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Yes but my idea was based on the concept of having a longer summer holiday (your suggestion 😂) so the half-term breaks wouldn't exist.
But this would give children a "brain break" during the school term.
I know it will never happen.

MrsHamlet · 22/07/2025 12:58

Needmorelego · 22/07/2025 12:57

I understand your point.
It's just nice to have a break from the academic once in a while but I know you have too much curriculum to cram in 😕

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I don't agree. They have 190 days with experts. Our job is to increase their expertise.
The "fun".... that's for their parents to deal with.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 22/07/2025 12:58

Needmorelego · 22/07/2025 12:57

I understand your point.
It's just nice to have a break from the academic once in a while but I know you have too much curriculum to cram in 😕

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That's what the holidays are for!!

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Needmorelego · 22/07/2025 12:57

MrsHamlet · 22/07/2025 12:54

I'm sure they would. But my job is to teach them, not to be a performing seal.

I did a very fun lesson with y10 last term. They played with parenthesis. That's about as fun as it gets.

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I understand your point.
It's just nice to have a break from the academic once in a while but I know you have too much curriculum to cram in 😕

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 22/07/2025 12:56

Needmorelego · 22/07/2025 12:55

@noblegiraffe I've got the blimmin Countdown clock music in my head now and it won't go away......

Might as well get some use out of it then

Summer holidays should be longer
OP posts:
Needmorelego · 22/07/2025 12:55

@noblegiraffe I've got the blimmin Countdown clock music in my head now and it won't go away......

MrsHamlet · 22/07/2025 12:54

Needmorelego · 22/07/2025 12:50

Dunno.....half the class would probably love to pretend they're the clock 😂

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I'm sure they would. But my job is to teach them, not to be a performing seal.

I did a very fun lesson with y10 last term. They played with parenthesis. That's about as fun as it gets.

Sophiehoney · 22/07/2025 12:52

No, I think 6 weeks is right. I beleive other countries have less time off during the year, where as our kids have a week or two week holiday every six weeks. I prefer it spaced out like that and I think it's better for the kids. They get a break more often and they don't have a huge chunk off to forget everything.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 22/07/2025 12:51

Needmorelego · 22/07/2025 12:47

It was just a suggestion 😂
A lot of schools do the "fun" things anyway.
Countdown (both the Words and Maths) was a popular activity when my daughter was in Year 6.
The children loved it.

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Kids do love a doss lesson. See also "Blooket" and "Kahoot".

OP posts:
drspouse · 22/07/2025 12:51

Needmorelego · 22/07/2025 10:04

It's the last day of term today and instead of feeling excited for the summer holidays I'm just feeling completely "meh" and have a "well summer is winding down now" feeling.
It doesn't seem like summer is starting it feels like it's ending.
Our "going away" holidays are usually a week at my parents home and a week at my in-laws home (both fairly ordinary Midlands towns). But I feel sad because all the summer related things have already happened and have been and gone.
Festivals, fetes, carnivals etc - they all seem to happen in June.
School run fetes obviously need to happen during the school term but even small community ones like ones run by churches - they've happened. They're done. They're over.
Nothing much goes on in August.
This isn't really relevant to the thread I know - I am just feeling very deflated today.
It feels our (England anyway) whole attitude to when the holiday's are, when exam season is etc are all wrong and outdated.

We are doing something different this year, but some years we have been to a festival over the Bank Holiday weekend - gives you something to look forward to, and only involves UK travel (though it can still be a bit expensive TBH).

Needmorelego · 22/07/2025 12:50

MrsHamlet · 22/07/2025 12:48

Not so appropriate or useful in year 10 and above though!

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Dunno.....half the class would probably love to pretend they're the clock 😂

Needmorelego · 22/07/2025 12:49

MrsHamlet · 22/07/2025 12:47

The curriculum is full to bursting, so no.

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The curriculum needs changing.
It really does. It's just too much.
That's not a dig at the (incredibly hard and well respected from me) job that you do 🙂

MrsHamlet · 22/07/2025 12:48

Needmorelego · 22/07/2025 12:47

It was just a suggestion 😂
A lot of schools do the "fun" things anyway.
Countdown (both the Words and Maths) was a popular activity when my daughter was in Year 6.
The children loved it.

Show quote history

Not so appropriate or useful in year 10 and above though!

AliTheMinx · 22/07/2025 12:47

My son gets an 8 week summer holiday and he misses school and his friends. It's far too long. My DH and I both work full time, so we have to try to eke out our leave as far as we can and try to do as much fun stuff with our son and arrange for him to.meet friends, but he does get bored sometimes. I think 6 weeks is plenty. Yes - he needs to switch off after a very busy school year, but I don't want him to completely get out of the habit of learning.

MrsHamlet · 22/07/2025 12:47

Needmorelego · 22/07/2025 12:41

So you never do a more relaxed lesson?
Like watch a film version of the book/play you are studying.
Play a game of Countdown?
Spelling Bee?
Word searches?
Hangman?

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The curriculum is full to bursting, so no.

Needmorelego · 22/07/2025 12:47

noblegiraffe · 22/07/2025 12:44

Which is fine, but don't make teachers do it and pretend it's school.

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It was just a suggestion 😂
A lot of schools do the "fun" things anyway.
Countdown (both the Words and Maths) was a popular activity when my daughter was in Year 6.
The children loved it.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 22/07/2025 12:44

Needmorelego · 22/07/2025 12:44

Well I prefer being at home with my daughter and would love a longer summer holiday - but for many it's not that people want childcare but they need childcare.

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Which is fine, but don't make teachers do it and pretend it's school.

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Needmorelego · 22/07/2025 12:44

noblegiraffe · 22/07/2025 12:42

I'm really getting the impression that people don't want their kids in childcare, so want school to become childcare instead (for free!) but still call it school.

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Well I prefer being at home with my daughter and would love a longer summer holiday - but for many it's not that people want childcare but they need childcare.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 22/07/2025 12:42

MrsHamlet · 22/07/2025 12:40

English.

I'm not paid to deliver "fun". I'm paid to teach students my subject.

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I'm really getting the impression that people don't want their kids in childcare, so want school to become childcare instead (for free!) but still call it school.

OP posts: