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Original poster

Private schools are breaking up early for Easter

46 replies

Wafflewife · 03/02/2021 21:19

Several private schools have just announced they are breaking up a week early for Easter on 19 March and going back a week sooner than planned (and a week sooner than state schools) on 12 April. They hope that by doing this they will maximise face-to-face teaching time as they are gambling on schools being more fully open after Easter than before it.

What do you think? Should state schools do the same? Is this just one more way that private school children are going to be advantaged over state schools because their leadership teams are able to be innovative and independent?

OP posts:
TryingNotToPanicOverCovid · 03/02/2021 21:21

Im still hoping for primary back on 8th March 🤞. It sounds like scotland are planning to get the younger ones back.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 03/02/2021 21:23

I think schools will be back before then anyway.

SonnetForSpring · 03/02/2021 21:23

I do think state schools should try to do the same but I'm not sure how feasible it is logistically. Also, private schools are in competition with each other. People will move their children if they feel another school is handling the crisis in a better way, so they have different incentives to state schools.

Original poster
Wafflewife · 03/02/2021 21:26

@Waxonwaxoff0

I think schools will be back before then anyway.
I really doubt it. They've said 8 March as the earliest to 'start' returning. So I reckon some kind of phased return. Most kids won't be in school before the private schools break up just 11 days later, but by the time they go back it might be open to more kids, but ours will be on holiday!
OP posts:
SeasonFinale · 03/02/2021 21:28

That was when we are supposed to break up anyway - 19 March so it wouldn't be early for us is we manage to go back 8 March. It is our normal end of term date.

SeasonFinale · 03/02/2021 21:30

and go back 14 March.

Original poster
Wafflewife · 03/02/2021 21:30

@SeasonFinale

That was when we are supposed to break up anyway - 19 March so it wouldn't be early for us is we manage to go back 8 March. It is our normal end of term date.
When are you due to go back?

Sorry I stupidly thought all state schools had the same Easter holiday.

I really think earlier would be so much more sensible! Swap remote learning for face-to-face learning surely!

OP posts:
CommanderBurnham · 03/02/2021 21:31

I think a 2 week half term might be better

Original poster
Wafflewife · 03/02/2021 21:31

@SeasonFinale

and go back 14 March.
Assume you mean April but wow that's a very long holiday! We get just over 2 weeks only.
OP posts:
HelloDulling · 03/02/2021 21:36

Easter is already fairly early. It’s going to make for a hell of a long summer term.

Original poster
Wafflewife · 03/02/2021 21:37

@HelloDulling

Easter is already fairly early. It’s going to make for a hell of a long summer term.
Hmmm not for private schools as they finish at the start of July, but I see your point.
OP posts:
MsFogi · 03/02/2021 21:39

Yes state schools should do the same - if not, their students will lag behind.

SeasonFinale · 03/02/2021 21:39

oops yes April. Sorry yes it's a private school not state. Private schools tend to have longer days when they are in and that is why they have longer holidays.

MillieEpple · 03/02/2021 21:40

My nieces at private school get 3 weeks at easter and forever for the summer holidays so there is more room to mive things about and bit end up with a term that drags on and on.

bbn81 · 03/02/2021 21:41

Not all state schools have the same Easter. My ds finishes on the 26th March and goes back on the 12th April in a state primary. Interestingly I work in a private boarding school and already have 3 weeks off at Easter. Our extra week this year is at the end so don't go back until the 17th April.

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 03/02/2021 21:44

Back on the 8th or at least primary with secondary half and half

Then break up normal Easter and that two weeks off will act as a fire breaker. Just in case cases have risen at all.

Eccle80 · 03/02/2021 21:54

We don’t break up until 1st April and go back on the 19th. I do think it would make sense to move the holidays a week earlier as our holidays seem later than most areas, and minimise the number of weeks of remote learning

Original poster
Wafflewife · 03/02/2021 21:55

@Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum

Back on the 8th or at least primary with secondary half and half

Then break up normal Easter and that two weeks off will act as a fire breaker. Just in case cases have risen at all.

I'm not sure about holidays acting as a fire break. If schools are back people will mix like crazy at Easter (and if they can, lots will go away). Cases rocketed after half term last year.
OP posts:
2kool4skool · 03/02/2021 21:58

Our private school terms are 2 weeks shorter than state over the year. More possibly. So are they DISadvantaged by that over state school kids?

Eccle80 · 03/02/2021 21:59

@2kool4skool private schools generally do longer days though, so same amount of time in school overall

violetcobra · 03/02/2021 22:00

This definitely isn't the case for all (most?) private schools - none in my area are breaking up early.

2kool4skool · 03/02/2021 22:01

Not ours. Standard school day.

Original poster
Wafflewife · 03/02/2021 22:04

@violetcobra

This definitely isn't the case for all (most?) private schools - none in my area are breaking up early.
Not all of them have announced it yet but it's what's happening. A few have announced this week so far. Bit outing but I get to hear this because of my line of work. Suspect there will be more.
OP posts:
ouchmyfeet · 03/02/2021 22:12

@SeasonFinale

oops yes April. Sorry yes it's a private school not state. Private schools tend to have longer days when they are in and that is why they have longer holidays.
No it's not. As my kids have discovered in school this year, when classes are a third of the size of normal you get through the work a hell of a lot quicker.
Thedogshow · 03/02/2021 22:15

Some in our area are altering term dates too to maximise face to face teaching.