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Original poster

School holiday dates

111 replies

ackarackaru · 14/04/2025 08:57

My DC school has just announced they’re doing away with our second week in June to align with the rest of the trust schools.

looking at the school holidays, we now have:

2 weeks in october
3.5 weeks at Christmas
1 week in February

so 6.5 weeks during the most miserable, cold, wet time of year

then the rest align with everyone else I expect, Easter, may then summer holidays.

why can’t the government change it so we have longer when the weather is better? One week in October is fine for me, 1 - 1.5 at Christmas, not bothered by February but if the kids need a break then 1 week is fine.

but why can’t we have the other 4 in the summer?! June onwards off would be lovely!

is it just me? Can we start a petition?

im grumpy because i just looked at a week in Mallorca for the May half term next year and its 4.5k (self catering) but the week after (that we used to have) - all inclusive! is 2k. So no holiday for us and lots of weeks stuck inside whilst it lashes down and blows a gale all through winter… yay.

OP posts:
Christmastreegremlin · 14/04/2025 12:57

ackarackaru · 14/04/2025 09:20

Hm yes good point re: GCSEs.

I assumed it was government led, my mistake.

the problem with October is you have to go further afield for decent weather and for me the benefit of more holidays in the summer is you don’t necessarily even have to go abroad. You could holiday in the U.K. which is cheaper, better for our economy etc.

and its not just about going on holiday. It’s child entertainment. The summer is so much nicer - park visits, farm visits, beach visits, hell just go in the garden. Winter? Sit infront of a screen, or trash the house with painting, crafting and baking.

You're obviously relatively affluent.

Many people aren't and find the summer holidays too long and extremely expensive.

PoppysAunt · 14/04/2025 13:01

Christmastreegremlin · 14/04/2025 12:57

You're obviously relatively affluent.

Many people aren't and find the summer holidays too long and extremely expensive.

Show quote history

That's true, and a very common complaint on here.

bigageap · 14/04/2025 13:08

Are you in Hockley by any chance!!!

Gollumm · 14/04/2025 13:12

Take a winter holiday in October, temps will still be good and it’ll be cheaper than May prices.

HamAlive · 14/04/2025 13:13

We don't even get 2 week half term holidays, just the bog standard 1 week half terms, 2 weeks Christmas, 2 weeks Easter, 6 weeks summer.

3.5 weeks at Christmas sounds odd, how long are they proposing for summer under this schedule? It can't be long if 6.5 weeks are already used up and there are only 6.5 weeks to spread over Easter, May and summer?

CaptainMyCaptain · 14/04/2025 13:14

Seachanger · 14/04/2025 09:01

3.5 weeks at Christmas sounds like a nightmare. I've never heard of such a long Christmas break.
What on earth is the rationale behind that?

Edited

Saving on heating and lighting in the school buildings?

These dates are not universal so it's not a government thing. It's either the LA or Academy Trust.

MiddleAgedDread · 14/04/2025 13:14

Superhansrantowindsor · 14/04/2025 09:06

I want two weeks in October. 2 weeks at Christmas. One week in feb. One week in May and 5 in the summer.
problem is everyone wants different do some will always be unhappy. But three weeks at Christmas is insane.

parts of Scotland do this - Aberdeenshire and Fife and other agricultural areas where the kids were traditionally needed at home to help with the harvest in Oct. It's known as "tattie picking" holiday.

FriendofDorothy · 14/04/2025 13:15

Whinge · 14/04/2025 12:54

I'm glad i'm not the only one who is confused. @ackarackaru Are you sure it's 3.5 weeks at Christmas?

Show quote history

Private school maybe?

YourZanyNewt · 14/04/2025 13:16

This sounds like private school holidays? They get extra weeks , as work Saturday mornings? I would go away in the 2nd of the Oct holidays x

Harrumphhhh · 14/04/2025 13:17

Where are you OP? That doesn’t seem to fit with most English schools, and I didn’t think anywhere else in the UK had so much time at Christmas either…

CantStopMoving · 14/04/2025 13:20

You are describing pretty standard private school holidays tbh. I guess the difference is, private schools will get an extra 2 weeks in the summer on top.

BuildbyNumbere · 14/04/2025 13:21

Start summer break in June?!?! 🤣🤣 Do you work???

PoppysAunt · 14/04/2025 13:23

A private school? That makes sense, with all the holidays and the OP keeping them occupied over a long summer with no worries.

SJM1988 · 14/04/2025 13:32

Its not a government thing, its a school trust / local council thing.

We have:
1 week Oct
2 - 2.5 weeks Christmas (depending on year and training days)
1 week Feb
2 weeks Easter
1 week May
6 weeks Summer

Our school trust tries to balance out at 6 week terms but sometimes it isn't possible - we have 4.5 weeks next term just because of where easter falls. I think it is much more important to have steady equal terms than holidays all in the summer.

Disneyrunner · 14/04/2025 13:32

This is why parents take their kids out of school for holidays - £120 fine to save £2,500 is a no brainer!

CosyLemur · 14/04/2025 13:35

Where do you live? I've never heard of anyone getting that much time off!
Most people get
1 week October
2 weeks Christmas
1 week February
2 weeks Easter
1 week June
6 weeks August!
They're spread so that the kids are at school for no more than 6 weeks at any time.

KateShugakIsALegend · 14/04/2025 13:37

ackarackaru · 14/04/2025 09:20

Hm yes good point re: GCSEs.

I assumed it was government led, my mistake.

the problem with October is you have to go further afield for decent weather and for me the benefit of more holidays in the summer is you don’t necessarily even have to go abroad. You could holiday in the U.K. which is cheaper, better for our economy etc.

and its not just about going on holiday. It’s child entertainment. The summer is so much nicer - park visits, farm visits, beach visits, hell just go in the garden. Winter? Sit infront of a screen, or trash the house with painting, crafting and baking.

Catch a train to the South of France from Paris. Lovely weather in October.

Delphiniumandlupins · 14/04/2025 13:37

I think go away in October and/or in your 3.5 week Christmas holiday.

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 14/04/2025 13:37

London seems to get:
2 weeks October half-term
2 weeks Xmas
1 week in Feb
2 weeks Easter
1 week summer half term
6 weeks summer.

Relative in rural Devon have the same except 1 week October half-term and 2 weeks in the summer.

Suspect that is due to harvests historically.

PinkyFlamingo · 14/04/2025 13:47

Morph22010 · 14/04/2025 09:01

That’s your opinion though, lots of people don’t like a long summer holiday, and the autumn term tends to be the longest so that’s why lots have a two week break then. 3 and a half at Christmas seems very high though we get two weeks at Christmas which is plenty

Didn't mean to quote sorry!

Where are you OP, you're not in Scotland that's for sure!

Thindog · 14/04/2025 13:50

Having longer off in winter means cheaper heating bills for schools, less time lost due to snow days, fewer children taking time off for winter ailments.Makes sense.

Wexone · 14/04/2025 13:52

Overthebow · 14/04/2025 09:09

Where are you? This isn’t a UK government thing, at dds school they get 1 week October, 2 weeks Christmas, 1 week February, 1 week May, 6 weeks summer holidays.

Do you not get two weeks at easter too ?

CautiousLurker01 · 14/04/2025 13:55

Seachanger · 14/04/2025 09:01

3.5 weeks at Christmas sounds like a nightmare. I've never heard of such a long Christmas break.
What on earth is the rationale behind that?

Edited

My kids private school used to do this, I suspect because Sept-Dec is a hideously long term and the last few weeks are just Christmas orientated, but the Independent Schools Inspectorate did a visit one year and felt there were not enough teaching days. So the school extended this term by another week. During which more Christmassy crap was done and not much more teaching took place…

AmIHumanOrAmIAYeti · 14/04/2025 13:56

Overthebow · 14/04/2025 09:09

Where are you? This isn’t a UK government thing, at dds school they get 1 week October, 2 weeks Christmas, 1 week February, 1 week May, 6 weeks summer holidays.

Same. Plus 2 weeks at Easter.

thewindbeneathmywings · 14/04/2025 13:57

Are you northern Scotland OP? My friend up there gets 2 weeks in October. Traditionally it was the tattie holidays.

my kids school get
2 weeks at Christmas
long weekend in Feb (Sat-Tues)
2 weeks at Easter
May Day bank holiday.
long weekend at end of May (Friday-Monday)
Break up for Summer end of June for 7 ish weeks. Go back around 20th August
long weekend (3 days) at end of September
1 week off in October
long weekend (4 days) in November.

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