This half term should be over next week

[StoutDrinker2019]

Live in the South West where (normal not private) term finishes on the 25th October. We've done 6 long weeks and are all hanging already. Kids are shattered, mornings are a disaster zone. It's the worst half term for new starters an the transition. So why the hell is it 8 fricking weeks long?!! Who decides this shit? Pass me the stout eh.

I always say this is the worst term, kids are exhausted, I’m holding on by the skin of my teeth. The only blessed relief is that Year 11 are going on exam leave soon. Bliss!

I like the Australian four term system. Kids go back from a two week Spring break here on Monday then it's 7 1/2 weeks until an 8 week Christmas/Summer holiday.

They just had 6 long weeks off school (some had 7) . I'm sure they will manage

Aragog hello from Sheffield 😊

Some schools it's w/c 21 Oct and some W/c 28 Oct

ibanez0815
That's me you've quoted. Honestly, 3 weeks holiday between September and June, then 10 weeks off is much harder on arranging childcare than smaller chunks spread out.

Theendofsummer

Are you a teacher? I've never noticed the length of the terms, my children don't seem to either. DS2 is Y1 which is a tricky year to adjust to (apparently) but my kids never seem to slow down!

Mine are struggling to wake up in the morning as it’s dark (we’re in NE), but once the clocks go back that should ease for a bit.
The September-December term is always a bit of a slog. It’s just so busy!

Our summer would have been less than 6 weeks were it not for a couple of PD days for teachers at the start. They got 5 weeks, 6 days. It didn't feel long enough, and the transition to y1 has been a twatter for DS. He's caught a bug, he never gets stomach bugs but this term he's started biting his nails, had mouth ulcers and now he's ill. A shorter term wouldn't fix all of this but it's a kick in the teeth when it's longer than the rest.

Western Europe here, too. We have 14 weeks not stop Sept-Christmas, 13 weeks Jan-Easter, 9 weeks Easter-summer. 10 weeks summer hols, nice and long.

We're not tired yet, this term flies and there's Christmas to look forward to. Christmas-Easter is awful and we're all gagging by the time that rolls around, and we only get 10days, not two weeks. Christmas holidays are 21Dec-8 Jan.

School timetable is 9-4.30, 9-5 for private schools, that's without all the extra clubs etc. By the time mid-Feb tollsvtound, we're all just bored of the routine and bad weather! We try to organise a mass forest walk and picnic with as many school friends as possible early March as something to look forward to, it's been quite popular.

I'm pretty sure I remember a thread from July asking why the summer holidays couldn't start earlier.

I would make the end of Spring term fixed, rather than aligned to Easter, so summer could be a week shorter, start later and add the time to October half term.

But it seems nobody will ever be happy.

It is a long half term but at least DDs school usually plans a long inset weekend part way through - so both Friday and Monday were inset days - a much needed break!

as schools in England are 3 terms with 3 half terms each half term is either 6-7 weeks very occasionally 8 it doesn't seem too bad to me
so autumn is a bit longer with a 8 +7 Spring is shortest often 6+6 but the weather's the worst
All over Europe Easter holidays follow the timing of Easter, in fact Easter is generally more important in many EU countries than other holidays I do not think fixing Easter will solve all problems
Some parts of Scotland ( argyll) fix Spring Holiday as first two weeks in April then when Easter is early you can get the absurdity of a long weekend for Easter back at school for 4 days then 2 weeks holiday or when Easter is late 2 weeks holiday 4 days school long weekend for Easter then about a week back then and off again for May Day