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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think we don’t need more school holidays?

180 replies

Halftermforever · 14/12/2025 14:31

The schools locally all seem to be either consulting too, or already implementing a 2 week October half term. This has really riled me because:

  1. The extra childcare will cost £500
  2. Schools already have 13 weeks holiday, whilst parents have 5 weeks. Is it really necessary?
  3. I get fined for taking my child out on holiday, but now suddenly the extra week won’t have an impact because they’ve reduced lunch by 10 minutes!

The talk about reducing staff and student absence is baffling. Yes it’s peak time for illness and stress, but the rest of the country seems to get on with it without having to run on 6 weeks off, 6 weeks in, 2 weeks off, 5 weeks in, 2 weeks off!

From July - December the schools are off almost as much as they are in!

It’s insane and not possible for working families to keep up with.

AIBU?

OP posts:
MrsHamlet · 14/12/2025 14:34

It won't be extra. It'll be moved from
somewhere else. Unless it's an Indy .... they can do as they please.

Needmorelego · 14/12/2025 14:34

Schools that have the 2 weeks in October have one less week in summer.
It's not extra holiday - just changing the time of year.
Personally I think 2 weeks in October is crap and would either prefer the 2 weeks to be in may or just keep as it is with the full 6 weeks of summer.

Halftermforever · 14/12/2025 14:33

Nope, they are academies, meaning they are not obliged to follow the 190 day rule.

OP posts:
Moretwirlsandswirls · 14/12/2025 14:33

They did that at my school and took it off the other holidays (summer I think) - it has worked well. Kids and teachers less knackered going into winter.

WonderfulSmith · 14/12/2025 14:32

They can’t just decide to do less school. Children are entitled to 190 days in school. Do they mean they are taking a week from the summer and adding it to October?