Do you WANT longer school days and shorter school holidays?

[shadowlily]

YABU- yes I want schools to have longer school days and shorter holidays

YANBU- no I'd rather keep the hours/terms we have.

I keep seeing this is being discussed in the media today, do you think it's likely to happen? Personally I think kids would benefit more from the summer holiday and being able to catch up on the activities they've missed and socialisation with friends. They've been home schooled to keep up with the curriculum (for the most part! I know this might be a contentious statement for some!) but nothing has replaced the play dates, day trips, parties etc. they have missed.

What do you think?

@FrippEnos Couldn't agree more. Virtually every post about this is how its better for the parents with little to no thought of the benefit to the child.

Schools aren't there to babysit, they aren't there to solve your childcare issues, they aren't there to exercise your child because you can't be arsed.

9-5 is an average full day in a job for an adult. School isn't a job, its meant to be an education. For a child.
Often by Friday they are knackered on the hours they have already, by the time it gets to the holidays the kids are exhausted.

School isn't even really just 8:30-4pm when you take into account the homework and revision that needs to be done outside school...

Maybe time to start thinking about what is actually best for the kids and not what suits the parents to reduce the time they have to bother with said kids.

Schools provide structure and learning which is what is needed right now to save many children

You do have to factor in wider issues such as the holiday industry that relies on long summer holidays - plus the fact that if everyone has to take their holidays in the same two weeks, businesses would grind to a halt like they do at Christmas.

You could stagger it across the country so its not everyone taking the same 2 weeks but maybe split into thirds each taking 2 weeks over a 6 week period

Totallyfedup1979

We could always get it from the taxes that large firms should be paying, or even stopping ministers from lining the pockets of their mates.

I think what most kids need is free time with their friends whatever their age to ‘save’ them.

@twelly

Schools provide structure and learning which is what is needed right now to save many children

Not for free though.

@Findahouse21

I think they should start again with the school arrangements. 6 terms of equal length, seperated by 1-2 weeks of holiday. Work out what teachers are paid now and then change it to reflect that it's a full time job.

Brilliant...I'd be earning an absolute fortune if I was paid my 'actual' hourly rate!! 👍 I don't think I've worked anything less than 65 hours a week in years! I can't wait for my pay rise, especially when they increase it to support @Findahouse21 's fantastic idea of paying me what I actually work ❤️

@tillyandmilly

Why do school days end so early ? 2.30-2.45? I started at 8.30 and finished school at 4pm in the 80’s -

The state infant school I work out is 8:40 - 3:20 DD's state secondary where she went for sixth form a year ago is 8:30 - 3:00. Her independent secondary was 8:30-3:30 but had a much longer lunch break and a break mid afternoon.

My school when growing up were 9am to 3:30pm in general. I thing my secondary was 10 minute longer than first school. We had much longer lunch breaks than most of the secondaries I know of do now.

The school summer holidays were one week longer. However there wasn't any inset days. When I set days came in then we 'lost' a week in summer and it was used for the inset days instead.

@StaffRepFeistyClub
*£82 billion for teachers alone.

So given that Treasury has said it can only afford to give nurses 1% I dont think they have £82 bn hidden away. Education already is the third biggest government spending section after social protection and the NHS. Government may have to take a radical approach and scrap state pensions to pay for it*

Thats £0.82 billion not 82 billion.

@Ylvamoon

I don’t want kids to lose half their summer holidays forever because some parents need childcare! The solution is better childcare solutions for those who need it, not more compulsory school

Childcare isn't always better than school.
My DC hated holiday clubs... they still had long days with getting up early coming home late. They still only had the weekend or some evenings to play with their long standing friends (especially if other parents are at home).
Often they had a "friend" for Monday- Wednesday morning, one for the afternoon and none for Friday....
And that is just talking about the kids!
Being at school with their friends and adults they know is better, especially for younger DC.

Long School holidays are an outdated institution from a time when the average family could live comfortably on one wage.

But the person you quoted is still correct - you just need better childcare provision. Those people saying they want shorter school holidays because they have to find childcare to cover the other weeks, are basically saying they don't want to pay for their children to be looked after and they want the state to cover it.

Staggered school holidays are rubbish for split families or people who don't live in the same town/Lea as their extended family.

Also rubbish for any teacher or school staff who doesn't work in the same LEA/area as their own child.

@FrippEnos

Totallyfedup1979

We could always get it from the taxes that large firms should be paying, or even stopping ministers from lining the pockets of their mates.

You know that’s just silly! Lol.

I’m on the side of - extending the school day is a stupid idea. Reducing the holidays is also a stupid idea. It would cost too much, for little gain. It would take away planning and prep time, lowering standards. It would be detrimental to pupils and staff’s mental health. And we’d have to find the money to pay for it somewhere, meaning the living standards of the average Jo, particularly those in the middle, would be reduced.

Anyone asking for all this, to give themselves a bit of free childcare, must be an absolute lunatic.

I'd like to see some sort of evidence base for this being more effective. I think We know the long summer holiday doesn't help learning as too much is forgotten but I thought longer days didn't boost learning?

It's like homework, the evidence base says it's a waste of time until maybe gcse level but for some reason it's seen as good for kids working harder.

I'd rather they did smarter learning than just more hours.

@Hollyhead

Longer school day definitely although not all taught - I would take PE out of the school teaching day and have PE for all children 3.30-4.30pm most days a week. Doesn’t all have to be delivered by a qualified teacher - just responsible adults who can get them running around and moving.

What about the poor kids who don't want 4 or 5 afternoons of PE. For some children school PE is horrid, especially if not naturally sporty.

What about the children who would like to spend their after school club time (which this is effectively) doing drama, dance, singing, music, craft, science, chess, and other non-sport based activities. Why are their preferences not going to be accommodated?

If child doesn't leave school until 4:30pm then there's much less time to explore other activities out of school.

@twelly

Schools provide structure and learning which is what is needed right now to save many children

Absolutely.

At secondary we are exam factories. We rated according to the outcome.

We have very stressed in Years 10 and above as teachers go on about exams and so do their parents. High expectations all round.

Extra days and hours come at a cost not just financial.

If it is going to cost over a billion pounds and raise the tax I’m paying, I’d rather that money be spent on smaller class sizes. Children would gain so much more from this. It alleviates behaviour issues, makes provision for Pupils with additional needs easier, means kids get ample teacher time....it just doesn’t help parents out with free childcare.

Even when I was a school years ago,I thought six weeks was seriously too long,most kids are bored after 2. We have no need for it,it was only to help on farms etc,& those days have long gone,sadly school holidays are dragging its feet,time for a complete overhaul.

In my opinion this is Gavin Williamson trying to leave his mark and fancying himself as some great politician like Rab Butler (just like Boris thinking he is the new Churchill 😂). The ideas that are being floated around look like a quantity over over quality approach to me. Already children in the UK spend considerably more time in school than for example their European counterparts without better academic outcomes. If the summer holidays are shortened to 5 weeks, I will take my kids out for another week.

Educationally the long summer holidays do not make sense. If we are truly child centred these need to be changed and now is an excellent opportunity to act.

How about longer days but no homework? That's what I would like to see.
I wouldn't change the holidays though. Growing up isn't all about school and children need the opportunity to do other things with their friends and families.

We have no need for it,it was only to help on farms etc

A popular misconception, but not actually based in any reality.

@mytwocats

Even when I was a school years ago,I thought six weeks was seriously too long,most kids are bored after 2. We have no need for it,it was only to help on farms etc,& those days have long gone,sadly school holidays are dragging its feet,time for a complete overhaul.

I loved and my child loves the six week holidays. For a little while, we can forget about school. Just because you don’t, doesn’t mean we all don’t make the most of that time.

I think what a lot of people are alluding to is that they need better and n]more affordable (or free to the user) childcare and wrap around care.

That doesn't mean we need to lengthen the school day in order to provide it.

It means we need to invest in better wrap around and holiday provision.

@twelly

Educationally the long summer holidays do not make sense. If we are truly child centred these need to be changed and now is an excellent opportunity to act.

Absolute rubbish.

@GrannyRose15

How about longer days but no homework? That's what I would like to see. I wouldn't change the holidays though. Growing up isn't all about school and children need the opportunity to do other things with their friends and families.

Older secondary schools do need some of homework surely though. How do they develop the necessary skills for independent work and time management regarding study if we don't leave them enough time each day to do this.