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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Why do school s insist on having the 6 week break in August...

338 replies

EezerGoode · 02/08/2017 17:23

Why not have a week of every month? Or just allow each area to set its own holidays..we could all then go on holiday in June or may ,when there actually was nice weather..and it would be cheaper..we all seem to accept it often rains in August..meaning we pay top whack for holidays when it pisses down....so what is stopping headteachers spreading the holidays throughout the year so we can take advantage of decent weather and cheaper prices??!!

OP posts:
Bloke1976 · 02/08/2017 17:26

There were a few schools trialing 5, 8 week terms with 2 weeks break inbetween and a 4 week summer break.

Sounds cracking to me.

TeenAndTween · 02/08/2017 17:26

Tradition, the Harvest.

Public exams, GCSEs & A levels.

Academies have the right to set whatever terms they want, if you have children in more than one school you'd be completely stuffed if they didn't more or less align.

leafv · 02/08/2017 17:27

I thought it was decided by councils rather than schools?

peachlimeorange · 02/08/2017 17:27

It would be a nightmare for teaching parents if schools had different holidays.

I do think wed be better breaking up mid May for 6 weeks though. The nice weather is ususlly may and june.

And a week off end of august.

TheNoseyProject · 02/08/2017 17:28

Academies can set their own term times and some have moved. Issue is if you have kids in different schools with different term times. Really you need the whole area to change. I am glad they don't have a week s month off though. I wouldn't be allowed leave every month.

Original poster
EezerGoode · 02/08/2017 17:28

But if each area / Lea got together and came up with the same dates it would work...feels like summer has been and gone before they left school

OP posts:
robindeer · 02/08/2017 17:29

It used to be leaf, but the privatisation of schools has been rife these last five years or so, and as a PP said, individual academies etc. have the power to decide their own terms.

Snap8TheCat · 02/08/2017 17:30

It would be a nightmare for teaching parents if schools had different holidays.

Comes with the territory of being a parent I guess. Lots of things are a nightmare for all sorts of different working parents.

Original poster
EezerGoode · 02/08/2017 17:30

But most people find it hard to get 6 weeks off work in a lump..so it would be harder a aweek a month...but really any combination of weeks off would be better than than 6 in August..two in may two in June...I don't know..it's just a thought

OP posts:
MrsJamin · 02/08/2017 17:31

I was going to agree with you and then I read your ideas about it being staggered which wouldn't work for teachers and people who live near borders of counties etc. August is always like this, it does my nut that the children are at school at the height of summer, June /July then we gave this big period of time when it can be really changeable. Harvest is not a good enough reason anymore! Scotland have it slightly earlier than England and Wales but I think it should be June or July predominantly.

Nix32 · 02/08/2017 17:32

Yep, it's all down to schools Hmm. There are thousands of schools in the country. It would be an organisational nightmare. And if it did happen? There'd be plenty of people saying, why do schools need a week off this often; what was wrong with the six weeks summer holiday? Children benefit from a sustained period away from school - they do actually need it.

CaveMum · 02/08/2017 17:32

A friend of mine went to a school (council run, not private) in the late 90s that had a 2 week holiday every 8 weeks, with 3 weeks off for the summer break. Seemed to work really well for them.

LittleWingSoul · 02/08/2017 17:32

I think the last couple of weeks have been particularly bad weather OP, it's not always this bad in the summer holidays. I feel the same way right now but will probably have forgotten about it if we get some better weather over the next few weeks!

But you're right, it doesn't really need to be 6 weeks, 4 would be adequate with the other 10 days added to half terms/xmas etc!

peachlimeorange · 02/08/2017 17:33

Yes but Snap8, teachers can't take anal leave

Helenluvsrob · 02/08/2017 17:33

Hop picking. Potato picking and harvest.
.
Seriously my mum taught from 1950s on. Kids were needed back then to work.

Also till recently the industrial fornight .

Agree it's mad now. Equally though you couldn't move it without reorganising public exams etc and neighbouring areas would have to agree teachers offspring don't necessarily attend in same area as parents teach et.

LittleWingSoul · 02/08/2017 17:34

Also, it should be added that I work in education so get the summer break off and my job is quite flexible so he other school hols are negotiable if they don't align with my particular institution (university).

I really feel for other working parents and their DC who don't have the luxury of a long break together at summer.

stella23 · 02/08/2017 17:34

The huge problem would be if you have different children in different LEAS or academy's. You could up end having to take two weeks off work a month.

Also the holiday clubs wouldn't run as they would be less profitable if they had less children attending due to different holidays making it harder for working parents.

Abra1d · 02/08/2017 17:35

Generally the weather is better earlier on, June and first week of July.

The private schools just seem to catch it as they break up earlier, plus the Scottish schools.

DonaldStott · 02/08/2017 17:35

teachers can't take anal leave

Poor teachers Shock

Original poster
EezerGoode · 02/08/2017 17:37

I think however it's done it won't suit everyone....so I suppose it's easier to leave things the same,than have folks complaining....it's the holiday expense that gets me...the holiday companies have us over a barrel and charge what the fuck they like for the kids holidays..if each area had slightly different holidays we could all pay less...I'm just pissed of im cold and its raining and even the dog won't go out for a wee

OP posts:
Wishforsnow · 02/08/2017 17:37

Blimey who is taking anal leave Peachlimeorange !

liz70 · 02/08/2017 17:37

We're in Scotland, and take our two week vacation in the first half of July. The weather is generally better than in August, which is pretty wet here right now.

Frazzled2207 · 02/08/2017 17:37

The only way this would work would be if the government said right everyone has to do it this way from now on.

In France other than the big summer hold they are staggered accordingly to region (so that the ski resorts don't get too crowded in februarySmile) but then again everything education wise is centralised in France which it is not here, so the schools there do what they're told.

In our lea schools get 5 in summer but 2 in late may/early June instead. Is sensible IMO.

UpYouGo · 02/08/2017 17:37

As a teacher and a parent it's not something I'll be championing, that's for sure!

peachlimeorange · 02/08/2017 17:38

Sorry!!

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