To think school holidays are at the worst bit of summer?

[SunflowerGardens]

Sometimes I wonder why school holidays are July - August instead of earlier in the year. The nicest sunny days seem to be May and June and it's much more pleasant to go outdoors then. Late July there's often some kind of unbearable heatwave, then the wasps come out and annoy everybody, then mid August it starts to feel a bit autumnal - nippy in the mornings and loads of the plants are obviously starting to die or thinking about dying soon.

This is lighthearted by the way, I'm not suggesting it be changed, more just sort of pondering. Before someone comes along, gets very angry and tells me to go and fuck myself for trying to change when the school holidays are I do like that September feeling - back to school on 30th July wouldn't be the same!

Our school breaks up for the summer in 2 and a bit weeks. But the heatwave that's just started will run for quite a lot of that and the have sports day / summer fayre etc - it's too hot for all that.

They should be breaking up at least by now and going back at the end of august rather than 5/6 September.

Good point about it depending where you live. I live in a very Northern part of the UK and sometimes forget most British people actually live somewhere quite a bit warmer than where I live!

It always rains in June. As a family we have 3 June birthdays and the weather is always crap. Tbf it rains in July and August too.
September usually seems to be about the best month.
The last time I can remember June being nice was 2006 (that was the year the tarmac was melting on the roads and I was 8 months pregnant).

Why is June 21st midsummer (longest day) but september 22nd considered to be the start of autumn? Surely it should be mid autumn.

I'm in the NW and in recent years, May-July have been the best weather. Last August was quite wet and cool here. Obviously, that won't be the case everywhere though.

Moving the holidays in line with Scotland might work - end of June to mid August or first week of July to last week in August. The issue with that as a secondary teacher is that the exam season can run until quite late in June. Also, results days are mid and late August so it wouldn't leave much time to organise enrolment etc.

That said, all of the above could be worked around if planned properly.

My school still have 2 weeks to go. The kids are exhausted and it's too hot 🥵 It has already been 5 weeks, another one would be OK but two feels so long. Then again, Autumn term is very long so I wouldn't want to make it longer.

YANBU

As a PP said it’s the hottest time of the year usually and they have loads of activities on at school which they don’t enjoy as they’re hot and tired.

I would definitely like the summer hols to start a couple weeks earlier.

I’d also be happy to knock a week off and have 2 weeks off in the October half term or an extra week at Christmas instead.

I used to teach in Switzerland. Summer holidays were late June to early August. We went back around the end of the first week of August. The autumn term was long but we had two weeks off in October and four weeks at Christmas.

Yes we go away first week of the holidays now to UK. We used to go Aug bank holiday week. Find the nights lighter in July and always a little bit warmer. Probably jinxed it now.

I’m in the NW and August is usually rubbish weather where I am. Going back end of August would be better but with 2 weeks at October which I think some places already do and a slightly earlier finish for Christmas.

😂

I get the Harvest thing but why is Scotland earlier? Do they harvest earlier?

I agree. I'm Scotland we seem to have our summer in April/May generally - exam season in other words. Then the usual disappointment of a soggy July in time for the kids being off. Rubbish for them.

Scottish schools break up last week of June or first week of July and go back mid August. I've never understood why England wait until mid July. July is not a good time to be in a classroom!

It's the difference between meteorological and astrological seasons.

My sister has always said this and I agree. Also our school just put two weeks into the October half term, which after going back in September seems pointless

We're in Europe and started summer hols mid June. Kids are back mid august it's a long holiday but definitley prefer it!