Longer school holidays in private system

[winkywinkola]

Why?

We are just coming to the end of 3.5 weeks of Easter holidays. I'm wiped out!

Why do private schools have such long holidays?

I'm bracing myself for the 9 weeks summer holiday!

I was at school in Ireland and we had 12 weeks summer holidays!! Now living in Scotland where my kids have 6 weeks, friends in Ireland with kids find the summer really long

Not sure what exeats are for, a weekend at home? Usually a much needed break especially in the autumn term. For many UK full boarders starting boarding it's the first time you can see you parents, usualy three weeks after starting. Theyre great for those who live close by, crap if your 5-6 hours from school as you feel your spending too much time travelling and not enough time at home.

Those of us with DC in the state system have shorter days and holidays, but how many after school and weekend activites do we take them to? Personally I spend my evenings and Saturdays taking DC to clubs which if at private school would possibly be included in the longer day! I do envy friends who have DC in private school who pick up at 4.30 and that's them for the evening and are able to enjoy a civilised evening meal.

Double I suspect any child finishing school at 4 30 in the independent sector will still be coming home to do prep, and the few friends we have with DC's at day schools do do further after school activities, they are still endlessly ferrying them round to other activities especially at the weekend.

Well my DC do indeed do most of their activities at school which is, I agree, a whole lot easier than ferrying them around, but it doesn't leave us with "carefree" evenings - the earliest finish after activities is 5:30pm and DC1 generally finishes at 7:30pm.

How many weeks holiday a year do kids in Ireland get? State in England get 13 weeks per year, so 12 week summer holiday seems a lot.