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?

Bad idea. So many out of school groups would disappear. Brownies etc, drama groups, dancing schools, sports and so on.

Stupid.

Is it likely to happen- I don't think so in 2021, the idea is being floated perhaps so the government can blame someone else (teacher unions perhaps) for poorer educational results/outcomes?

Is it desirable or practical- I don't think so if all schools follow the same term dates. Shorter summer holidays will mean cramming maximum demand for holiday accommodation into fewer weeks, either increasing prices, or for UK based holiday providers and attractions, could actually put them out of business if they have a shorter peak summer season.

Absolutely not.

Children need that time off. I know I did as a child, and my children do too.
People keep talking about children are under too much pressure etc these days then come out with this sort of thing.

I would need more breaks in the day as I find a 6 period day totally full-on. Never mind the marking or planning.

As a parent, I don't think I'd want it for my kids either. They need to relax and play - particularly when they were primary age. It doesn't seem fair to them. They're quite good with schoolwork, but I think this could risk tipping the balance and impact on their mental health tbh.

I think an argument could be made for the school infrastructure to be used for extra curricular activities well-funded by the Government and provided by external practitioners out of hours for families who are unable to take their children to swimming lessons, music lesson and sports clubs. That provision could also continue over the summer.

But it would have to be provided alongside the school, using the school buildings and would have to be optional - not a part of the compulsory school day/term and not by teachers, who are already working full time.

Yes
And less homework

Nope.
And it won't happen. They would have to renegotiate the terms of teachers' contracts (those who are employed under contracts that follow the burgundy book) which would never happen due to teacher and union backlash.
They might be able to offer this if they employ supply staff to deliver it/ if they get teachers to volunteer to do it for extra pay- but this involves money and one thing we know about this government is that they don't put money into education.

I strongly believe that what our children need more of is more social time with peers, more time to play, more time to be outdoors, more tie reconnecting with their wider families, more time to engage with clubs/sports etc. Not more time sat in a classroom learning timestables.

We like to go on holiday. 2 week holidays would price us out of everything, plus I’d never get leave if everyone wanted the same 2 weeks.
My dc have worked hard throughout lockdown but have missed out on activities/ socialising. Shorter holidays/ longer school days would make this worse not better.
Some children need to catch up academically, others need to improve their mental well-being/ happiness. Why further disadvantage the latter group for the sake of the former? Surely targeted catch up tutoring etc would make more sense. I think what we need now is a return to normality, not a new set of restrictions for children.

No thanks! My DD has done all her work and is ahead with her learning. (She is Reception so appreciate this is easier!) I have plans for the summer; days out, seeing family, maybe a holiday. I do accept though that other children are struggling far more and may benefit. I certainly wouldn't want longer days for little ones, and I can't see anyone agreeing that.

Longer day - no
Shorter summer holidays - yes

Because its too long. Evidence shows that children regress over that lengthy period. For vulnerable children it exposes them to more vulnerability and it causes food poverty.

It doesn't have to be more academic learning - outdoor education would be incredibly beneficial and is evidenced to improve physical and mental health, wellbeing and can help to close the attainment gap.

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 -

@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 -

I don't know any schools who finish at 2.30 or 2.45.

I'd be happy with a four-week summer hols and another week tacked onto Xmas/May half term but no to longer days.

Oh yes -as OhWhyNot says less homework. Primary should be things like practice some spellings/timetables but pretty much that should be it. No projects that aren't something that is also being done in class.
(Although if a child doesn't finish work in class because they were essentially messing around then they should finish it at home).

Not even a little bit!

The only way I'd be happy with a longer day if it was playing different sports or activities after school.

Most kids have been doing some kind of work either at home or at school but what they haven't been doing is clubs & activities.

@tillyandmilly how long and how many breaks did you get a day though?
My school runs 8.30-2.45, with 15 min morning break and 30 mins lunch break.

No, they won't do anything that costs more or negatively impacts other sectors such as tourism or holiday clubs. Longer days have to be paid for and there isn't good will left to do it for free so that won't get off the ground beyond a few flagship schools used to show how much help was given. Most that will happen is changes to terms that will negatively impact parents who have sorted term time jobs.

Nope, it works well as is for the children, who are the most important considerations.

tillyandmilly my daughter's secondary is 8.30 - 2.50. They have a fairly short lunch break though. When I was at school in the 80s lunch break was about an hour and a half. We voted to change it to 40 minutes so we could finish at 3.

@stuckinatrap

I think an argument could be made for the school infrastructure to be used for extra curricular activities well-funded by the Government and provided by external practitioners out of hours for families who are unable to take their children to swimming lessons, music lesson and sports clubs. That provision could also continue over the summer.

But it would have to be provided alongside the school, using the school buildings and would have to be optional - not a part of the compulsory school day/term and not by teachers, who are already working full time.

I do sor of agree, but as a teacher, the idea that an after school class woudl use my classroom, always made my heart sink.

Because all my resources are out, sorted, tidy and ready for the kids coming in the next morning. From things like pencil pots, through to wall displays. Some kids keep stuff in school, like their pencil cases in their trays.

Anyone using the room means either i have to remove lots of this stuff (and not all is possible, even with the walk in lockable cupboard I had) or risk it all being messed up. There is nothing more disheartening than coming in in the morning and finding half the display has been spoilt and all the pencils are scattered round on the floor somewhere.

Nooooo! It's going to be enough for the kids going back to full time school, the last thing they need is extra school.

I get that, but I keep seeing that teachers are paid for the hours they are in school, rather than how much they actually do. So I think their pay would be raised by about a third. Thanks for the abuse though.

I think they should just remove some parts of the curriculum - either altogether or into the following year's expectations. Reduce some of the "padding" in primary schools for a year or two as well. Much simpler.

No. It's not good for the children.

My dd has a school day from 8:10 to 6:20 and they do their homework in the last hour. Also there is time for pe every day. It is private and the holidays are long though.