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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think these term date changes suck!

77 replies

Justanotherissue · 23/02/2022 17:25

NC for this.
Just found out our school has changed the October and Christmas half terms for the next school year.
They’ve added an extra week in October - so now 2 weeks- and only 1 week for Xmas (break up 22nd).
I’m quite pissed off but don’t know if I’m being unreasonable or dramatic- my thoughts:
1- childcare for two weeks in October will be a hassle, holiday clubs won’t be open for 2 weeks
2- the run up to Christmas with primary aged kids is great, breaking up 2 days before Xmas eve is extremely limiting
3- It limits the chances to travel to family over Xmas
4- I think kids need a two week break in the colder darker months after more school, can’t see the need in October.

Anyone else’s school do this?

OP posts:
daisylou466 · 23/02/2022 18:43

YerAWizardHarry

It sounds insane to break up as early as the 15th! In Scotland we always get 2 weeks at October and break up around the 22nd

Not true in all areas of Scotland. Depends on which council the school is in.

Lampface · 23/02/2022 18:43

Ahh just saw your pp. I think 22nd-3rd is reasonable, that's what my LA does (Scotland).

pancakesandsyrupplease · 23/02/2022 19:00

My older DC is in yr7 and they now have 2 week October half term and 1 week less in summer. My younger one is in yr5 and their school is still the usual 1 week HT and 6 weeks in summer. Both schools are in the same LEA and neither are academies, so the schools obviously have some leeway re holiday times.
For me, I'm hoping that this idea won't have caught in nationally by the time my youngest starts in yr7, because we should be able to get a fairly reasonably priced week in Spain or something in October Grin

PotteringAlong · 23/02/2022 20:01

You see @Justanotherissue I don’t mind breaking up late. Christmas will happen either which way. I’m not saying on the 25th “sorry I haven’t got a turkey, I was too busy thinking about my year 11’s”. But the long period after Christmas gives a proper time to relax (and eat lots of cheese Blush) so I’m quite looking forward to going back on the 9th January.

Horses for courses though - you said you wanted an extra week in the summer and I would definitely sacrifice that for an extra week in October.

Frazzled2207 · 23/02/2022 20:54

@Hollyhead

I wish May half term could be a fortnight and then break up a week later for the summer - much nicer weather!
We have exactly that where we are.
Darbs76 · 23/02/2022 20:57

We have 2 weeks in October in our secondary and it’s actually really useful as you can take a late summer holiday in October when it’s a bit cheaper. But we use all the inset days so don’t sacrifice any of Christmas. I’d rather have it in October personally as I find that a long term and once Christmas is over glad to get back into a routine but it does limit travel if going to see family for Christmas

Doggoo · 23/02/2022 21:00

Why not take it off the Summer hols instead. 6 weeks always feels too long and unnecessary, especially for working parents. This would be a good move to spread it out a bit

noblegiraffe · 23/02/2022 21:06

That is horrendous. Just checked our school calendar in a panic and we sensibly have the last day as Fri 16th.

Dixiechickonhols · 23/02/2022 21:06

2 weeks in October is fab DD’s primary did it. You can have main holiday then it’s much cheaper and use childcare all summer hols when it’s plentiful. Plus work is happy as you aren’t wanting a prime summer hols holiday. Ideal for Florida. But she had normal Christmas too.

fluffythedragonslayer · 23/02/2022 21:46

Yes our LA has changed to 2 weeks in October, we go back end of August and have 4 less days at Christmas. I'm not sure how I feel about it.

CristinaYangismySpiritAnimal · 23/02/2022 21:51

The December dates sound fairly standard. I’ve worked in 3 schools and never known one finish earlier than the 19th December. 21/22 is the norm.

SeasonFinale · 23/02/2022 21:52

2 weeks in October is great for getting sunshine at a cheaper rate though

balalake · 23/02/2022 21:58

Unreasonable not to explicitly communicate this to all parents. It's inviting absence just before Christmas.

Also at work those with heritage or birth from another country tend to have indeed it maybe said need a reasonable length of Christmas holiday if they are to visit relatives abroad, which probably they could not have done for the last two years.

Lack of some form of consultation I suggest you ask the school governors why, via the chair of Governors. I would think no chance of a change in 2022, but you might get it in 2023.

HarrietteNightingale · 23/02/2022 22:05

The silver lining is that you get a week in October with not as many people off for holidays etc, we have this with my DP's kids off for 2 weeks including the first week November, I got a great cheap flight deal to Spain for 4 in that week and a lovely villa for us and their grandparents. I'm sure their mum will enjoy the break and chance to go away too.

FingersofFish · 23/02/2022 22:09

Our LA did a 2 week break last Oct and a shorter summer hols. They're going back to normal next year. id rather have The time in May or the summer

HughGrantsHair · 23/02/2022 22:12

Christmas break is really late this year. We break up day before Christmas Eve. I'm dreading it. But we go back much later than normal so it makes up for it. We go back on the 9th January.

We normally break up around the 17th.

DePfeffoff · 23/02/2022 22:16

My children have always broken up around the 21st, both in primary and secondary schools. It seems fairly standard in the South everywhere.

Newnormal99 · 23/02/2022 22:25

My youngest will start getting a 2 week October half term this year when she goes to secondary (oldest already there). I can't wait! We tend to go away spring or autumn as I hate heat so I'm really looking forward to cheaper holidays!

BooksAndHooks · 23/02/2022 22:31

If hate that the two weeks at Christmas is my favourite time off to relax as DH office shuts for the same two weeks too.

The schools I know that do two weeks at October half term use all their inset days to achieve it and the teachers do the actual training in twilight after school sessions.

ColdTattyWaitingForSummer · 23/02/2022 22:34

Scotland here.. locally to us autumn term starts mid August, two week holiday in mid October, and 2 weeks at Christmas, but no February or May half terms (they do get a long weekend around Valentine’s Day, and again around May Day). Usually finish up the last week in June.

SonicStars · 23/02/2022 22:36

I think the 22nd thing is just the dates this year. My LA is doing that (and the 3 next door ones) and they're not changing the October dates about. I don't think it's linked to the extra October week.

I like the idea of a 2 week half term. It's a long term, and quite a tough one adjusting to new class etc. Plus it means you have enough time to make it worth travelling somewhere warm at that time of year.

However I am aware that that is a very very privileged position to be thinking from. For a family with young children and little money it's so much harder to entertain them in the winter when it's cold, wet, and dark. Long free days out in the playground or packed lunches in the woods aren't as much fun when you're damp. Potentially two weeks of being cooped up in a flat together in October as opposed to in the summer when you can just play out would not be popular with most parents round my way.

saraclara · 23/02/2022 22:41

@CristinaYangismySpiritAnimal

The December dates sound fairly standard. I’ve worked in 3 schools and never known one finish earlier than the 19th December. 21/22 is the norm.
Yep, same here. A finish on the 19th is a result. It's never earlier. And going back straight after the NY BH is also the norm. And that's with one week half-term holidays. Breaking up on the 15th sounds like a private school thing.

Two weeks in October isn't unusual. The winter term is the longest so the break makes sense. But the places I know that do that have a shorter summer holiday.

Howshouldibehave · 23/02/2022 22:48

My DD’s birthday is the 18th and that is often right at the end of term. I’ve been teaching for years-state schools. It’s always 2 weeks with a return v soon after NYD

tintodeverano2 · 23/02/2022 23:03

@Clymene

School holidays are typically mandated by the county council aren't they? Schools can't change them as far as I know
Academies can set their own holidays and do not have to follow the county council dates.
musicviking1 · 23/02/2022 23:24

I wouldn't mind two weeks in October but as I have children at different schools it could mean a logistical nightmare if only one school decide to do this. The problem I have is one of my children's school has so many charity events and it means the school closes early or entirely on those days and its a bloody pain in the backside!