School term dates

[KnobJockey]

There's debates going on at the moment about whether to extend/ change term dates this summer to aid learning, which obviously a lot of teachers are upset about.

Not getting into the working side of it for teachers (as in, not getting into whether you should be working for extra for no pay this year, not whether the working hours work for you), does the current school holiday setup work, or should it be looked at?
By that I mean- long summer holidays, 2 weeks at Christian holidays, 1 week at others. I DON'T mean do you think teachers should work more, or any kind of teacher bashing, I just wondered if a lot of people think this opportunity to rework the school year should be grasped.

YABU- the current school holiday system works

YANBU- I think the 15 weeks school holidays should be spread out differently through the year

No vested interest in this currently, I have a 6th form teen who sorts herself and a toddler, I just find this an interesting subject and I think the time is perfect to look at the potential issue.

@KnobJockey yes. We take 2 in September to allow new staff and student induction and one after Christmas for staff development. The other 2 are disaggregated twilights.

Plus now the covid situation. Which I know some people think will resolve itself, but my personal opinion is that we have a couple of years ahead of us of kids learning at home at least part time, becoming more prevalent in winter. In any case, self isolation will still more than likely be expected. Would that be as bad during summer when they can at least open the windows?

@MrsHamlet I've never heard of that description of them, it's a nice term ☺️

Disaggregated? It is quite a nice word - and they work better for staff training than whole days

I just think of the huge amounts of threads that are started as people can't find & afford childcare for summer/ kids are restless after 6 weeks off/ their learning has fallen off a cliff and struggle with going back/ not enough time off at Christmas/ holiday costs are extortionate in August/ child poverty in school holidays is a concern

It would be more sensible for the government to invest in affordable (or free for PP) summer play schemes then. Utilise community centres, sports centres and church halls for those that need it.

holiday costs are extortionate in August

Making the summer holidays shorter would only exacerbate this.

If summer holiday was 4 weeks, travel during that time would be even more expensive but personally I love the 6 weeks off and the memories my dc have off those times. My family aren’t local so we can travel to visit with the chance of good weather. My family in the states break up and of June and have summer camps etc.

Many schools have already made the summer holiday shorter and added a bit to other holidays. I think there are many studies to show that children regress in their learning over the summer so it makes sense. 2 weeks for the Summer half term would be good as that’s when the weather is usually best!

I really don't want three weeks at Christmas as I can't really take three weeks then and none of the childcare options are open then.

Two weeks in October/ November is grim. If it had to be changed I would go for 2-3 weeks in May/June, start the summer holiday later but go further into September, to shorten the winter term.

I think the way many countries do it with 2.5+ months in summer, then two weeks ish at Easter and two at Christmas is better. So scrapping half terms. The first week back from a break everyone's settling back in and barely any learning gets done and the last week everyone's getting ready to leave and winding down so also no real learning. It wastes a lot of time.

Plus much better for kids healthwise to be off for a long period in summer and spend lots of time outdoors.

I would take a week off summer and add to may June half term but wouldn't want longer winter hols. No point having time off when the weather's crap.

Thank God I'm out the other side now.
As a working parent my life was dominated by finding playschemes, saving for playschemes and the pain that is having kids aged 9 -12 Who decide they are too old for them/hate sport but are too young to be left.
Changing the holidays won't help. As a manager, 6 weeks isn't long enough if you have staff who all want 2 weeks anyway.

2.5 months over the summer? Jeez.
My holiday year went.
2 days Feb half term
A week at Easter
A week May half term
2 weeks Summer
2 days October half term
Xmas Eve
For years and years. Any kid illness was unpaid. 2 and a half months?

I am a teacher and I’ve always said summer holidays should be reduced to 4 weeks. Give them August off, it’s more than enough time. You’d be surprised by just how much children fall behind during those six weeks. Nice for everyone to have a break of course but it’s a long gap in learning.

@MagentaDoesNotExist

I think the way many countries do it with 2.5+ months in summer, then two weeks ish at Easter and two at Christmas is better. So scrapping half terms. The first week back from a break everyone's settling back in and barely any learning gets done and the last week everyone's getting ready to leave and winding down so also no real learning. It wastes a lot of time.

Very few schools I know work like that. There's no winding down before half terms, etc. Granted before Christmas at infants we do have some Christmas related activities in the week before, but all part of the curriculum. Even nativity shows and summer end if year okays are part of the curriculum - drama and English include these. Christmas crafts - art, design and technology. Etc

Only holiday we might not work immediately is after summer where we take a day or two to settle into the new class, teachers to bond with their classes, learn their names and a little about the children, etc.

I'd be happy with a 4 weeek Summer holiday but would love for it to be rejigged so that it's in July not August when the weather is cloudy and muggy at the same time.

I think I'd maybe add a week at Easter, then do the whole summer term with no half term (there are two bank holidays anyway in May) and finish last Friday in June, back 1st Monday in August.

I'd scrap GCSEs to cut down on the amount of marking done.

I don't think there's a lot to choose between July and August especially given they are different in different parts of the country!
Definitely no 2 1/2 months in the summer, whoever says that doesn't work.

That is true, I just have a hatred of August - it's the worst month in my opinion!