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Original poster

Restructuring the school year

247 replies

AntiSocialDistancer · 19/05/2021 23:41

inews.co.uk/news/education/education-catch-up-shorter-school-summer-holiday-ofsted-1005616/amp

A five term school year? With 2 week breaks and 4 weeks off at summer?

What do you think? With the understanding every school, pre-school etc falls into line.

Yanbu - let's change
Yabu - stay the same

OP posts:
freakyfridays · 19/05/2021 23:59

Poor kids. What a grim life if you remove a decent summer holiday.

Equally shit for teenagers who will miss out on trip and experience abroad, and jobs, 4 weeks is far too short.

Original poster
AntiSocialDistancer · 20/05/2021 00:02

@freakyfridays

Poor kids. What a grim life if you remove a decent summer holiday.

Equally shit for teenagers who will miss out on trip and experience abroad, and jobs, 4 weeks is far too short.

I don't know many teenagers who go on holiday for weeks at a time? Where are all these experiences and who is paying for them?
OP posts:
lavenderlou · 20/05/2021 00:06

It would make summer holiday prices even higher if everyone was crammed into the same 4 weeks. It would also cause difficulties for working parents if everyone was trying to take annual leave in 4 weeks of summer rather than 6. We already have shorter summer holidays than most other countries around the world.

freakyfridays · 20/05/2021 00:06

oh, I see, you are one of those trying to race to the bottom.

Original poster
AntiSocialDistancer · 20/05/2021 00:13

@freakyfridays

oh, I see, you are one of those trying to race to the bottom.
I'm really not. I have a few school years ahead of me with children and I wanted to read more it.

I have no idea how impractical it would be to change the school year etc.

OP posts:
MargaretThursday · 20/05/2021 05:25

If I was doing it, I'd increase school holidays because the children need the break.
I'd also increase funds for vulnerable children to be able to do holiday clubs, and put on more that take disabled children.

Ginuwine · 20/05/2021 05:26

@freakyfridays

oh, I see, you are one of those trying to race to the bottom.

What does this even mean in this context?

picturesandpickles · 20/05/2021 05:32

If you are worried about educational standards - look at the fact the UK has the largest class sizes in Europe and high poverty.

No no no no no to this.

And my kids can't afford to go on long holidays - but the summer is a vital time for them to just be themselves and pursue their interests.

picturesandpickles · 20/05/2021 05:37

Basically what schools need is more cash.

This is just change to look like they are doing something.

You're a mug if you fall for this shit.

JustLyra · 20/05/2021 05:38

A revamp like that would have massive implications for so many people and sectors.

School transport providers, suppliers and caterers would have to change their set ups.
Colleges and universities would be impacted both in terms of any changes to exam dates, but also the problems that would be caused for students who were suddenly no longer off for roughly the same holidays as their children.
The travel industry would have far more people trying to squeeze holidays into a shorter summer holiday window.
Holiday club provisions would have to make changes and many would be able to take less children in a shorter holiday window (usually we offer parents 2 out of 6 weeks for example, so that would take 2 weeks out our summer offering which would be nearly 100 spaces).
Any business with term time staff would be impacted.
Any business that uses lots of summer holiday student staff would be impacted.

JustLyra · 20/05/2021 05:40

There are many changes that could be made to schooling, but that’s the last one I’d make

Also, the long summer is what keeps a lot of staff involved. Take that away and the staff exodus would be even worse

Redwinestillfine · 20/05/2021 05:41

How would that work? When would the holidays fall?

CassandraTrotter · 20/05/2021 05:43

I wonder whether you'd end up with far more families than now going on term-time holidays, so creating far more disruption to classroom learning.

Parents would be blaming schools for the huge increase in school holiday time prices.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 20/05/2021 05:47

No, I don't want this. I like that DS gets a long summer break.

picturesandpickles · 20/05/2021 05:54

@Redwinestillfine

How would that work? When would the holidays fall?
It doesn't matter how it works - it is a political tool to stop parents thinking 'why are there no text books and glue sticks in my kid's school' - every time they wheel this out everyone gets distracted from the shit state of schools.

We need investment in schools. In staff, buildings and equipment.

I wish parents would mobilise!

garlictwist · 20/05/2021 06:01

I actually think it's a good idea.

4 weeks is still a very long time to have off school. I remember the summer holidays at school always felt a bit too long and I felt very lost and like I'd forgotten everything by September.

HarebrightCedarmoon · 20/05/2021 06:06

What I would personally suggest is, like they do in some parts of the UK, start the holidays in June and go back in August. We always miss the best of the weather while they are in summer term and autumn seems to start in late August anyway!

SnappyMcSnapface · 20/05/2021 06:11

Can you imagine everyone at work trying to get holidays in the same 4 weeks of the summer Shock

I also don’t think 4 weeks is enough time for kids to rest between school years. They benefit a lot from those long summers imo.

LilacSorbet · 20/05/2021 06:19

I'm not quite sure how exam marking works (apart from this year where the teachers seem to have picked up the workload of both setting and marking), but I'm fairly sure there would be an impact on that and university admissions.

JackANackAnoreeee · 20/05/2021 06:22

There is so much cultural momentuk behind the current system that it probably won't change. It probably would be better for kis to have more short holidays than one super long one though.

MasterGland · 20/05/2021 06:24

I can't imagine the independents following suit, which would lead to quite a few issues.

Geamhradh · 20/05/2021 06:31

@garlictwist

I actually think it's a good idea.

4 weeks is still a very long time to have off school. I remember the summer holidays at school always felt a bit too long and I felt very lost and like I'd forgotten everything by September.

We used to get five weeks only in the summer. Finished the last Friday of July and went back around the first couple of days of Sept. It seemed like an age!
Bessica1970 · 20/05/2021 06:47

We do this already and it’s great having two weeks off at other times of the year. Four weeks is enough.
If more schools did it they should look at staggered holidays though to avoid raising holiday prices.

Mistressinthetulips · 20/05/2021 06:50

Stagger the breaks and dh and I would never have a holiday together. Some teachers would never have a holiday with their kids (quite common to work and live in different school areas)
Growing up I had 8 weeks off every summer, was fab, for me.

megletthesecond · 20/05/2021 06:52

I don't have a problem with this.
I've always wanted the school holidays swapped to winter as that's when kids and parents get run down. I hated the endless illness and stress when mine were younger. We don't go on holidays (stay with family instead) so a shorter summer break doesn't bother me.