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Original poster

Gove says lengthen school days and shorten long summer holiday

720 replies

juneau · 18/04/2013 17:42

Here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-22202694

I think it's a great idea and I'm sure working parents will welcome it. I also think it's bollocks that teachers need the six week summer break to recharge their batteries. Do they work harder or longer hours than other workers who only get four or five weeks a year then?

Having just endured a bored DS1 over the Easter holidays I think any break of more than two weeks is actually pretty dull for kids and I'm sure poorer kids really suffer from lack of stimulation and/or money to do stuff.

OP posts:
LazarussLozenge · 20/04/2013 18:06

Take your kids out of school during the term time. It is possible and, dare I say it, even allowed.

Just don't say it is for a 'cheap holiday'.

Failing that, if the holiday is really cheap, it's only £50 penalty around here.

EvilTwins · 20/04/2013 18:18

The state school I teach in has a 40 minute lunch break, not really long enough and means all extra-curricular activities have to be after school. This then means that extra-curricular activities rely on the goodwill of staff. I use to teach in a London school which finished formal lessons at lunchtime on Fridays. The afternoon was compulsory extra-curricular activities for KS3 and optional for KS4. If staff wanted to run a club, they got paid extra. If they wanted to finish early for the weekend, they could. If they wanted to stay in school and spend the afternoon marking they could, but didn't get the extra money. If you needed to cancel your club one week for any reason, that was fine as long as the children were given enough notice, and then they could go along to a different activity. Again, you didn't get the extra money if you didn't run the club. It was a good system, but dependent on extra cash. It was inner city London, so lots of extra money for schools who were able to access it- not possible everywhere.

EvilTwins · 20/04/2013 18:19

Lazaruss, seriously- you're training to be a teacher? You seem clueless.

exoticfruits · 20/04/2013 18:19

But the teachers and their families have to stick with the dates and the crowds+ the disruption of DCs missing through the summer so that their families can get cheaper prices and lack of crowds.

Iggi101 · 20/04/2013 18:26

Lazaruss, I can't give any more identifying info but the idea that you know more than the person who gave me that info would be laughable, if it didn't make me sad to see such arrogance. I hope you keep some of your opinions to yourself in the school you're training in.

soverylucky · 20/04/2013 18:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LazarussLozenge · 20/04/2013 18:49

I think this medium of communication doesn't convey some of the finer nuances of a posters opinion.

nailak · 20/04/2013 18:49

I like the idea of early start early finish optional extra curricular activities in afternoon

LazarussLozenge · 20/04/2013 18:51

Iggi, I am not saying I know more about the situation than the persons involved.

But I am stating the rules to do with the reforms.

Look them up. As a disabled person she is due an extra room under the 'bedroom tax' rules.

I made a mistake btw, it isn't PIP that would cover the extra payments needd.

Iggi101 · 20/04/2013 19:16

She is in a 3 bed house.

LazarussLozenge · 20/04/2013 19:27

'Iggi101 Sat 20-Apr-13 19:16:37

She is in a 3 bed house.'

If you read my original post I pointed out that the extra cost for that bedroom can be covered. It will depend upon her case, I don't know anything more about her nor am i making the decision.

Either way, unless this 1 bed flat she is moving to is part of some sort of supported housing she will actually be able to move in to 2 bed (iot allow a carer to provide 24hr care if required.

For what it's worth I would prefer she was allowed to stay in her current abode, but the decider would be things like continuity of local support. I don't know if the local authority can provide support to her should her local voluntary help fade (for any reason).

LazarussLozenge · 20/04/2013 19:38

Oh, btw. I don't comment on political or similarly divisive topics in school.

I do Design and Tech, with a healthy dollop of electronics.

Hoping to do a bit of ICT too.

I've done them for 24 years for real, so why not teach what I know?

Also a canoe instructor, mountain leader and rock climber... I also instruct first aid and I've joined the school band (cornet Bb).

Yes, I know. I am awesome, you don't have to say it.

KatyDid02 · 20/04/2013 19:40

I am completely against a longer school day; my DCs both love sports and they do sports after school and that would have to stop if the school day was longer as it'd mean that they would be up far too late for a school night.

I doubt it will happen thank goodness, the country can't afford the increase bill it would have for salaries to cover all the extra hours. If they expected the extra hours for the same salary then so many of us would leave - if I lost the advantage of the shorter school day and longer holidays then I would not be prepared to do my job for the pittance that I get paid so would leave ASAP.

alemci · 20/04/2013 20:25

on a positive isn't it better when the private schools break up early. Much less traffic on the road at school times and massive 4 wheel drives at every turn.

I don't think some PS get much longer holidays. Maybe 2 weeks earlier in the Summer and an extra week at half term.

EvilTwins · 20/04/2013 20:32

Lazaruss - give it a year or so....

It's harder to be so "awesome" when you're on a proper contract and proper OFSTED criteria for obs. The PGCE criteria is less exacting.

li1972 · 20/04/2013 20:34

Not so bothered about the holidays changing but longer days would be welcome BUT only if it meant that the children had an hour or so working on 'homework' - more like the prep that kids have in private schools.
I'm really anti homework anyway - do not believe in it and know that that will cause all levels of hassle when my LO gets to school... so yes, longer days but hands off those lovely holidays!

monkeytrunks · 20/04/2013 20:55

Kids get 8 weeks in the summer in Norn Ireland - I feel we'd be cheating them of part of their childhood to cut it down. They need time to sleep in a tent in the garden, set fire to insects, all that stuff...

turbochildren · 20/04/2013 21:11

Gove does not know of what he speaks. This just makes me even more determined to get my children out of here...I like the UK, but my children's schooldays are so regimented I'm not impressed. Not noticably more geniuses in those factory-school countries thatn elsewhere...
So in sum: I do not agree. At all.

LazarussLozenge · 20/04/2013 21:13

Evil,

I've been of steded already... several times infact.

EvilTwins · 20/04/2013 21:14

How so if you're currently doing a PGCE?

GirlOutNumbered · 20/04/2013 21:16

That's unlucky Lazarus, have you been training for 10 years?!

soverylucky · 20/04/2013 21:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LapinDeBois · 20/04/2013 21:22

Lazaruss, for a trainee teacher you have a worrying attitude to the importance of education and respect for the school rules if you advocate not only taking time off during term time but also lying to the school about it.

Feenie · 20/04/2013 21:30

What Lapindebois said.

HesterShaw · 20/04/2013 21:32

There's a strong whiff of something agricultural.