When does everyone break up for Christmas hols?

[BelindaBagwash]

We don't break up till Tuesday 22nd which is the latest I think it's ever been in all the many years I've been teaching

22nd here. (North lanarkshire)

3.10pm on 18th here and do 'g go back until 6th so a full 2 1/2 weeks this year! (We lost our long weekend in September to get this, but still had 2 weeks in Oct)

Next year it'll be 3.10pm on 23rd. We have done the 23rd one year before in my memory (about 5 years ago maybe) and it was awful! For anyone travelling for Christmas it was a total nightmare as they all had to travel on Christmas Eve, which is fine if you're only going an hour or two away but plenty of people travel a lot further (inc us) and it's difficult.

I grew up in NI and schools always close at lunch time at the end of every term - I don't get the whole staying in til 3pm thing - the teachers must be demented!

1pm on Tuesday 22nd for us. However that is after Cathedral and we opt out of that, usually I make them go in but as it is a 30 minute round trip minimum each way and I have arranged to work at home to accommodate that, I'm actually wondering if there is much point to me sending them for effectively 2 hours and means I am driving for an hour.....

I usually do insist they go in but to be honest I don't think the world would collapse if they each had half a days absence. DS1 hasn't had any since P2 (now S4) and DS2 (now S3) has had one half day in the same period.

I know TheTroublewithAngels but it's the principle. I've got a good relationship with the headteacher and I know she'll authorise the absence in February (I'd asked in a previous year but we never actually went) but I still like him to have a good attendance record - as much for the school's attendance stats as anything.

School finishes at 3 on Friday 18th. I finish on Monday 21st and go back Tuesday 5th.

My 2 finish 12pm on the 22nd and return 7th January.

We finish on the 18th. I don't finish work until 23rd though.