To think this will do nothing to help absence rates

[Imonthebloodyphone]

So a report published today says that school summer holidays in England should be cut to four weeks. (I know Wales has been consulting on this for a while but don't know if anything has been decided)

The report recommends longer half-term breaks in the autumn and spring terms in a proposed overhaul of the academic calendar. Article here:
www.theguardian.com/education/2024/feb/26/school-summer-holidays-half-term-england-calendar-nuffield-foundation-report

AIBU to think this is only going to exacerbate school absence? Because what struggling families really need is even more pressure on the already expensive 6 week summer holiday period when they can take their kids away!

Who on earth wants extra weeks in November and February, especially families who can't afford to go abroad. The last two weeks have been so bloody wet and miserable here in the UK; I can't imagine if a February holiday was my best hope of a break.

i do think that the autumn term is long and could do with a longer holiday, but February, really?

A week off for Christmas? There is more than week between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day. They need more Xmas holiday not less.

I was a secondary school teacher for 26 years

I never saw any regression in progress over the 6 weeks. They just picked up where they left off the previous academic year.

My friend in Portugal was complaining about the three months they have off in the summer so I would count your blessings.

Oh god I don't want more school holidays in winter 😱

The English summer holidays are already mercifully short in my opinion (compared to Ireland anyway). Let them have the time off when everything isn't covered with mud and it is actually pleasant to be outside, I say.

Sounds awful! We're in France and we have two weeks in Oct / Nov, two weeks in Feb and 7 or 8 weeks in the summer. I love it but I'm a teacher!
French people tend to send their kids to stay with grandparents for a couple of weeks in the summer and in the other hols plus there's loads of cheap clubs and stuff that you can sign the kids up to.

Yeah, I ❤the meagre UK school holidays!

I'd rather an extra week at Christmas where you can at least do Christmas stuff if the weather is bad. The Christmas holidays feel really short.

You should contact your MP

We currently have two weeks at October (as a teacher) and that’s good as you can get a cheap but nice holiday then. February- two weeks aren’t needed in the run up to Easter imo and it’s a waste to have them then. The weather is better in October than February too.

My son's school already does 5 weeks summer and 2 weeks in October/November. The shorter summer holiday is better for him because there are no school holiday activities suitable for him( severely learning disabled teenager) and he gets bored.

I think 5 weeks summer with 2 weeks in end of May or beginning of June would be better. Then the extra days on October so it’s more like 1.5 weeks there too. I’d also like to fix Easter holidays and just have the bank holiday when ever

NO! I love the 6 weeks off in the summer! DCs get to totally unwind and yes - forget all about school !!

The only thing i'd do is bring it forward a bit because summer doesn't seem to happen in August any more

Shortening summer and lengthening other holidays will make the year one big blur. The long summer nicely marks the end of the school year - a long deep breath before the next begins.

When I was a parent governor at a secondary school this was discussed at one of our meetings.

The head teacher and all the staff who were at the meeting said it was a bad idea because they wouldn't be able to cover the GCSE and A level curricula. The extra weeks in two half terms would make a significantly negative impact on them.

I wonder how many parents on this thread have DC in years 10 and above? What are their thoughts?

They've been talking about this since my DC were in school and the eldest is almost 40. I seem to recall that when I was at secondary there was an experiment to give us 3 weeks at Christmas and shorten the summer by a week, but that didn't last.

I would really like to see a longer May half term holiday, but that is the one they never mention extending. I know it's exam time but the week before the current break couldn't hurt.

My youngest is at college and now gets 2 weeks in October which has turned out to be pretty useful, so I'd be in favour of that, but 2 weeks in February unless you can go away is miserable.

I know it's exam time but the week before the current break couldn't hurt.

GCSEs take place then, as do some A level subjects. This would mean that the exams will spill over into July, then the results days will be later.

I'm a teacher and actually, I think I'd quite like this!

But I'm quite happy with 1 week half terms. I'd like 3 weeks at Christmas and Easter instead of 2, then a 4 week summer holiday. e.g. a decent break between each term.

Very doubtful they'd extend the May holiday due to GCSE and A level exams. Logistically it would be a nightmare.

I am also for it. 6 nearly 7 weeks is too long. They usually do get bored and the weather sometimes isn't that great in comparison to May/June imo.
I'd rather the weeks add on to beginning of June and the October break. Makes those breaks a bit more restful.

6 weeks is already less than the kids have in Europe, why is it such an issue here in the UK?

I really don’t understand where this is coming from

• childcare: cheaper in the summer as can be outdoors. To the people complaining it is a high bill in August, nothing prevents you from setting money aside monthly.
• holiday prices: will be more expensive if everybody wants the same 4 weeks
• difficult for kids to go back in Sept after a long break: we all managed! kids in other country manage! Having time to disconnect is highly beneficial for mental health. Children are then excited to go back for a new year.

6 weeks is already less than the kids have in Europe, why is it such an issue here in the UK?

Probably a big part of it, as a previous poster said, is that we've fucked around with our safety nets and social provision so much that schools are one of the few things left.

Sounds fine as long as its the last 2 weeks in August that are taken, as the weather is always crap by then. Pull Oct week forward and add another one in front of it.

Yes I agree 2 weeks at May would be great, but the current exam timetables would mean that's very unlikely. I suppose they could do it at Primary level but not Secondary.

Yes

I always liked the 6 week break

FWIW this is what we have at our independent primary:
1 week October
3 and a half weeks Christmas
1 week February
3 and a half weeks Easter
1 week end of May
July/August off

The Christmas/Easter breaks could be a bit shorter but the rest is perfect like this. I really didn’t like the « short » 6 weeks summer holidays at their state school before.

This will also disproportionately benefit the better off who can afford to fly off somewhere nice in the crap weather. Those who rely on local campsites for a break will have to scramble for the 4 weeks available instead of 6. Realistically people won't be able to get bookings and will just go in term time that should have been the holidays. You can't camp in February (unless you enjoy hypothermia).

There are very few opportunities to get a fortnight away, in the school holidays. Christmas for most is a no no, as its usually family time. Easter - great. And summer - great.

Doing this means people can take a fortnight abroad outside of the main 4 summer weeks - its still sunny and warm in various nearby countries in October and Feb. And then the 4 weeks at home in the summer can be spent at home, as this is our best weather.