Why do schools finish early before a long holiday?

[Dumpelstiltskin]

This gets my goat as a working parent.

All schools in my area finish at lunchtime when they break up for Christmas and Summer. DC don't even get lunch so DC on free school meals and KS1 DC miss out on a lunch which the school has already been given the budget for, I presume.

They are due a long holiday, why is it necessary for the school to have a half day?

Actually my husband also trained as a teacher and I know they work hard. My point is that a lot of workers work hard but somehow don't manage to win the sympathy vote in the same way as teachers do.
I wouldn't want to be a teacher, thanks, but that doesn't mean I am not allowed to make an observation, does it?

Goodfish, of course they do some work on the holidays, and so they should.
After all, most workers get five weeks annual leave and teachers get about 13 weeks.

Excessive admin and govt micro-management make a mockery of our dcs' education, and teachers are criticised, judged and damned for trying to cope with it.

Early finish but still fed and watered by the school as 1245 collection.

I am commenting purely on the attitude that teachers workharder than anyone else

It wasn't a criticism that I assumed teachers went to the pub. I wouldn't blame them for a moment after a year of teaching, they deserve a drink! Need it I'd say!

I hope all the teachers have a lovely summer

Thanks, Bitoutofpractice, I hope all the kids and their parents have a good summer, too.

Cathf, there's probably no point in engaging, as you've clearly made up your mind on teachers, but I will pick up one, pedantic point: there have been several seven and eight week half terms this year, including the one leading to the GCSE and A-level exams, so we are not permanently six weeks from a "week off" (which you should know it isn't really, as your husband is a teacher). You need to pay more attention to your DH's work schedule!

My son's doesn't

TypicallyEnglishMustard

I doubt that cathf takes a lot of notice other than to moan.

Our primary school always finished at 1415 at the end of term and secondaries at lunchtime.

When I worked in secondary the DVD watching was drastically cut down in the last week so parents couldn't justify taking their Dc out for holidays. Very difficult to work in hot conditions as most schools seem to be lacking in air con.

Wouldn't parents be even more fed up if the term finished earlier in regards to childcare.

Our school never finishes early, and the head doesn't allow DVDs or any slackening of teaching in the week(s) running up to a holiday.

I think that's because she refuses all requests for absence and knows that the parents will complain if she allowed any of that, while refusing other requests.