The Nuffield Foundation Suggests Reforming The School Year (BBC News)

Allira, my daughter’s 14!! We are trying not to think of the new term, although we did go to the uniform shop to see what the new style school skirts are like, but she decided against getting one.

The area I moved to as a teenager had Wakes Weeks. Hadn’t heard of them until then.

PaperMonster2

Allira, my daughter’s 14!! We are trying not to think of the new term, although we did go to the uniform shop to see what the new style school skirts are like, but she decided against getting one.

The area I moved to as a teenager had Wakes Weeks. Hadn’t heard of them until then.

Oh, I misunderstood 😀
I thought she was an exhausted teacher!

No, just an exhausted teen traumatised by the secondary system.

PaperMonster2

No, just an exhausted teen traumatised by the secondary system.

That's sad. That pupils can't find enjoyment in their learning, yet have plenty of wind down time in the holidays.

PaperMonster2

No, just an exhausted teen traumatised by the secondary system.

Traumatised?

I hope you have been able to use the afflicted "trauma" to show her how to build resilience.

She’s a very resilient child.

PaperMonster2

She’s a very resilient child.

I think schools can be huge and impersonal now, quite daunting, especially for children who have been to small, friendly primary schools.
Some of the bullying that goes on is horrendous too.

Thankfully she’s not encountered any bullying, it’s more the school system than anything else. I work in schools and I’ve heard so many shocking stories over the last couple of years regarding secondary schools.

There have been numerous attempts to reform the school leave year since the eighties, but none have gone beyond the discussion stage as the six week summer holidays remain popular among both pupils and staff. While probably in the past the teachers had six weeks to relax like the pupils, nowadays, many have to prepare for the new term and attend training days just before the new school year, and probably only have three to four weeks to chill.

They have four terms in Australia, terms divided by two weeks' break, but still have a long summer holiday of about 6 or 7 weeks over Christmas.

Well said Cumbrianmale56
Can we also look at the length of HoC holidays?
If the government changes school holidays, maybe they should think about their own days off.

Cumbrianmale56

There have been numerous attempts to reform the school leave year since the eighties, but none have gone beyond the discussion stage as the six week summer holidays remain popular among both pupils and staff. While probably in the past the teachers had six weeks to relax like the pupils, nowadays, many have to prepare for the new term and attend training days just before the new school year, and probably only have three to four weeks to chill.

Some areas have moved towards it. My three great nephews are at primary and secondary schools in Nottinghamshire, and my niece is a teacher. They have a shorter summer holiday, and two weeks off at half term in October. They all like it, it breaks up the long haul from going back to school after the summer holidays until Christmas.

Casdon

Cumbrianmale56

There have been numerous attempts to reform the school leave year since the eighties, but none have gone beyond the discussion stage as the six week summer holidays remain popular among both pupils and staff. While probably in the past the teachers had six weeks to relax like the pupils, nowadays, many have to prepare for the new term and attend training days just before the new school year, and probably only have three to four weeks to chill.

Some areas have moved towards it. My three great nephews are at primary and secondary schools in Nottinghamshire, and my niece is a teacher. They have a shorter summer holiday, and two weeks off at half term in October. They all like it, it breaks up the long haul from going back to school after the summer holidays until Christmas.

The period between September and Christmas seems so long for everyone because there are no Bank Holidays in that period of time.

This is from a post on Linked In and adds a different perspective - one you are unlikely to see from a pupil/parents point of view.

If we look at the data we can dig into this some more -
The average teacher gets 65 working days or 13 weeks (Monday to Friday) off every year.
The average UK worker gets 28 working days or 5.6 weeks off per year.

So far the teacher is clearly in the lead by 37 extra working days across the year.

However...
The average full time teacher or school leader works 53.4 hours a week (2023 DfE data).
Where as the average full time UK worker only does 31.8 hours a week (2022, ONS).

So the teacher works around 2,082 hours across their year 39 week year.
BUT the average worker only does 1,475 hours over their 46.4 week year.
607 hours less every year.

These are very rough calculations. Every job is different. Every role is different.

However don't believe the simplicity of 'teachers get more holidays'.

You don't. You sacrifice 21 hours more than the average UK work every working week. The half terms are you just taking your hours away from work in a different way.

www.linkedin.com/posts/mike-leaman_do-teachers-really-get-more-holidays-than-activity-7297155385436635136-g6fI