State schools must stay open but private schools can close early

[Lumene]

This seems really wrong to me. Kids I know at private school has their last day yesterday, so a clear run until Christmas. But the government is forcing state schools to stay open, meaning parents have a legal obligation to send their kids in.

This means if you pay you can safely see your family at Christmas but if you don’t then you can’t unless you break the law and face a fine.

Well private schools normally have longer holidays. In my area of London my dc's primary is finishing on the same day as the local private (next week) but different return dates.
My friends state school has closed a week earlier yesterday.

My dB teaches in a private school and they are sticking to their original term dates, which is another week at school.

Other private schools have already broken up but that is largely due to their original term dates being stuck to.

In Wales, the govt has said all teaching is online from Monday for all schools. Bojo could have chosen to say this for English state and private schools but has chosen not to.

Private schools always break up a week earlier, not just cause of covid

Sorry OP, they always do, every year. Christmas usually a four week holiday.

I think private schools have always had shorter terms, it isn't a covid thing

Our prep school is sticking to original term dates so break up 18th, back 6th Jan. I was hoping they would go online next week but no.
I could pull him out with no penalty but he loves school so won’t. We’ll isolate for 10 days and see older relatives after Christmas (illegally but safely!)

[quote catspyjamas123]@MrsMiaWallis you get snobby snipe of the year award! I’ve sent my kids to both state and private and private is not always better. I’m happy to have the £30K to save![/quote]
Good. The OP is ignorant and goady.

Good. Some of us want our children at school, I don't want them to close early. I'd rather forgo seeing family than DS be out of school any more, it's ONE year.

I work in a private school. We are now breaking up a day later than all,other local schools. So you don’t know everything, OP.

@x2boys

Don't private schools always get longer holidays ?

Yes.

My daughter finishes on Tuesday nothing to do with covid

OP you say this like it is a good thing. My kids at PS were due to end the term mid next week. Instead, they finished mid last week (just gone) due to an outbreak at the school which closed. We are devastated- we would much prefer them to be at school for their learning, social needs and the fact we are now working 5 days work in 2.5 days each to patch childcare. You say it like it’s a privilege to have them off, which quite frankly makes my blood boil. They are off because some poor kids and teachers are ill with covid. Both kids stuck inside for 10 days isolating like prisoners. FFS

What a ridiculously goady thread. They'll have set the term dates to finish this week years ago. They always have longer holidays.

My DC have always broken up earlier than the State schools. They finish next Wednesday

The thing is the state school kids are basically conscripted. I’ve had a letter from school explaining only a handful of classes are still in - the rest are isolating. Covid is rife. The school says it understands parents’ concerns but anyone who doesn’t send kids in (when not isolating) will be reported to the local authority. Reading between the lines they are saying that because they have to. I think heads should be allowed to make a judgement call and should safeguard their pupils. Private schools do have more freedom but so should all schools. It shouldn’t matter where funding comes from.

@catspyjamas123

The thing is the state school kids are basically conscripted. I’ve had a letter from school explaining only a handful of classes are still in - the rest are isolating. Covid is rife. The school says it understands parents’ concerns but anyone who doesn’t send kids in (when not isolating) will be reported to the local authority. Reading between the lines they are saying that because they have to. I think heads should be allowed to make a judgement call and should safeguard their pupils. Private schools do have more freedom but so should all schools. It shouldn’t matter where funding comes from.

This literally has nothing to do with private school term dates.

Eton shouldn’t be finishing for the end of term until next week but they have closed this week due to outbreaks.

Meanwhile Presdales school in Hertfordshire have been sent a letter by the government saying they cannot go to remote learning next week despite the school having 50 cases, 4 staff and 46 pupils, with one member of staff in hospital.

Private schools always close early, there is no difference this year.

Even if they didn’t, so what. They are private, not run by the state, they decide when they open. People who complain about private schools are just bitter p they can’t afford them. And no, I can’t afford them either but I’m not going to moan others can. State schools have far far more children to consider, they need to consider the impacts on working parents, vulnerable children, lack of free school meals during the holidays for children who need them...

Private schools always finish early 🙄🙄 no conspiracy

@starrynight19

Meanwhile Presdales school in Hertfordshire have been sent a letter by the government saying they cannot go to remote learning next week despite the school having 50 cases, 4 staff and 46 pupils, with one member of staff in hospital.

So what?

Really, so what? What does that have to do with private school term dates?

@Thespidersweb

Ours shuts on Wednesday.

However - private schools shut early for everything. The summer holidays are looooooong and can often start on the 10th of July

Our state school (England) finishes around that time. We finish on the 9th July next year.

Our private school finishes next Thursday. Was meant to be Friday lunchtime but they've made the last morning online only.

Really, so what? What does that have to do with private school term dates?

The thread is about state schools being made to stay open is it not.
‘State schools must stay open’ is the opening of the thread title

I teach in a private (boarding) school. We finish early because we teach Saturdays as well and then have longer holidays.
My friend teaches in an independent day school, no Saturdays, finishes on Wednesday.
But yes, I agree ALL schools should have been allowed to move online for 2 weeks to prevent Christmas spread if they can, at Headteachers' discretion.

My daughter finished yesterday for Xmas as per the usual term dates (independent). She is 8 and her school day is 8.15-4.20 or 5.40 if she stays for extra sports which she usually does so she probably ends up doing more hours a year than at state schools despite all the long holidays.