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

Learning slippage doesn’t appear to have negatively affected the majority of us who went through the education system, having long summer holidays, Easter and Christmas breaks plus half term holidays. How on earth were we clever enough to then go on and achieve our various qualifications (most people acquired some qualifications, some more than others of course); obtain a job/career, and some, believe it or not, even became scientists, doctors, nurses, professors, teachers, etc, etc. ( Some of them eminent in their field, too). How on earth can this possibly happen when school children have such lengthy holidays, impacting their learning? 🤷‍♀️
As you may gather, I’m weary of this old chestnut that school holidays are too long.

Ziplock despair away, we used a mixture of private and state schools, we had our own business and were restricted on when we could both get away at the same time.

Taking our five out of school at various times hasn’t hindered their education or career paths.

Three of them were taken out for two and three months respectively over two Christmas’s.

escaped

^Maybe schools should be a bit more understanding if parents choose to take their children abroad during school time^
Indeed this, particularly in primary school.

I despair, honestly, I despair.

MayBee70

Will that mean that holidays during a four week summer holiday period will be even more extortionate? Maybe schools should be a bit more understanding if parents choose to take their children abroad during school time ( given that travel is important for children).

Yes, let’s not worry about education - let children go on holiday whenever it suits the parents - then, if the school holidays are shortened, teachers can spend all their precious time preparing and delivering catch up lessons for the little darlings 🤷‍♀️🤬

Maybe schools should be a bit more understanding if parents choose to take their children abroad during school time
Indeed this, particularly in primary school.

I enjoyed the long summer holidays with our children, 7+ weeks for private schools.
Of course, there was a bit of slipping backwards in their learning, this wasn't in their skills but more in their attitude. A good teacher should be able to re fire their enthusiasm for learning in little time after the holidays.

Will that mean that holidays during a four week summer holiday period will be even more extortionate? Maybe schools should be a bit more understanding if parents choose to take their children abroad during school time ( given that travel is important for children).

I always loved the long holidays, I disliked school but going back after the break was exciting & motivating, just because we'd been out so long & it was a new year.
It's been 4 generations roughly since children were a significant factor in getting the harvest in on time, so if it hasn't happened yet I'd be suprised if it happens in future.

Assuming that the amount of time out of the classroom remains the same, I'm not sure that I can see how this would benefit working parents, as the need for childcare would be rearranged through the year. Cover would then be required for, say, two weeks in October and February as well as the month in the summer.
The point about learning slippage may well be relevant.

I enjoyed it too, but I was lucky enough not to have to work as most mothers seem to now just to survive. A expensive nightmare for those without childcare.

I always enjoyed the long six week holiday with my children just as I enjoy it with my GC, as do their parents.

Doesn’t this come round with monotonous regularity?
There will be as many variants on the present system as interested parties surveyed and as usual, nothing much will change. .

Scotland's arrangements seem better to me. Summer holidays are still quite long, early July to mid-August, giving more of the best of summer instead of the dog days. But I would shorten the long summer holiday and have a week off in early June.