Schools Reducing Their Summer Holidays To Four Weeks – After Parents Campaign For It

As of today, many children across the UK are on their school holidays. They’re getting ready to enjoy six blissful weeks without teachers, after school activities and lessons.

But that could all change if schools decide to shorten their annual summer holidays.

The customary six-week break has already been reduced by two primary schools in Gainsborough, reports Metro.

Both White’s Wood and Mercer Wood in Lincolnshire have taken advantage of the fact that state schools can now set their own term dates and will now close during the summer for just four weeks – after Principal Sharon Close was inundated with requests from parents for the holiday to be shortened. And no doubt other schools will soon follow suit.

Many parents struggle to cope during the school summer holidays. While six weeks off is fantastic for children (and teachers), it means that working parents have to book time off from their jobs or sort out some childcare – a costly business.

The kids in Lincolnshire won’t miss out though. Both of the Gainsborough schools will add the two weeks that have been shaved off this summer to the other holidays during the school year, spread over the various terms.

The school year has come under scrutiny before with many slamming it as out of date. A Government assessment showing that shorter school summer holidays would benefit poorer children who rely on their free school meals and some schools argue that a less time off during the summer will prevent pupils from losing progress. After all, six weeks is a long time to stop doing any educational activities whatsoever.

Another school has rejigged its holiday days to help parents manage to afford a family holiday. Eveswell Primary School in South Wales is combining all of its five inset days into one week in June so parents can take their children on holiday when it’s cheaper.

Headteacher Catherine Barnett came up with the back-to-back training days for staff so that parents can save on their yearly family holiday and take their children away when it’s more affordable.

Do you think school holidays should be cheaper? Let us know in the comments.

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