School Holidays

[rockyracoon]

It was said on Sky News this morning that from 2015 schools will be able to set their own holidays, the only stipulation is that they must be open for 190 days a year (my childrens svhool already do 192, the kids will be delighted, not). Anyway, do you think schools will really change or just keep the status quo What a nightmare if you've got kids in different schools, I reckon there will be lots of unauthorised absences with families trying to organise holidays.

[emmie]

would play absolute havoc with parents who work, some places have set holiday times for staff, a relative has to take two weeks summer break in August, they don;t have young children, but if they did their plans would be in disarray.

[LazyGun]

It is extremely useful in daily life to have orderly schedules; To know that the train or the bus is going to arrive at a stated time, and that it will do that for every subsequent day.

Likewise for term times at schools, I think. It helps everyone to know when the kids holidays are. This measure looks likely to introduce an unwanted chaotic element.

Much as I enjoyed my own extended summer holidays when growing up thought, i do agree with the proposition that term times should be reordered to give more terms and shorter but equal breaks throughout the year. I just think that whatever changes come should be applied equally to all schools, rather than the fragmented approach that a "choice" agenda could lead to....

[emmie]

what would it also do to the teachers schedules...

[Canary42]

It won't affect the "idle rich" so don't expect this Government to do anything about it. The "plebs" can like it or lump it.

[emmie]

idle rich, who are they...

[emmie]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22868901

[emmie]

sorry that last one is on the wrong thread.. x

[ummmm]

I think they should change it. Summer holidays are far too long.

[emmie]

maybe they are, but chaos will ensue for those who work, those who have children and don't won't be affected. most people with children have to plan their lives around them, the school run, the summer hols, you name it.

[themorrigan]

The Summer holidays in most other countries are much longer than State School holidays here. but they have less half terms. Personally I think 2 weeks at Easter is excessive and Christmas not enough . Not all schools break up at the same time anyway -there is often a weeks difference at least and that's just in our area so can't see the big deal really.

[themorrigan]

The schools are not run for the convenience of working parents. If both parents work then they've made that decision to have children and should not expect free babysitting from the education system. Lots of Schools have summer school facilities these days anyway.

[emmie]

no one is suggesting that they get free babysitting, but as i already put some parents have specific holiday time to take, if their job says you have to take it now, but the children are in school, then that will create a conflict.
i will ask one of the relatives who runs a school what he thinks...

[LazyGun]

@ themorrigan School timetables are not run for the convenience of working parents? Perhaps they should be. Things change and evolve with time.

The current timetables originated from observance of religious holidays and festivals and a long summer break to allow the kids to help out on the farms where most of them were based, once upon a time. Is that still the best way to decide term times in the 21st century?

To be honest, it is not an issue that bothers me unduly, so long as whatever changes are introduced are adopted more or less universally - not something that allowing individual schools the power to set their own schedule is likely to achieve....

[rockyracoon]

Morrigan I largely agree with what you're saying but hate it when parents are accused with using schools as a babysitting service, the law says kids have to go to school, if parents sat at home all day and never went to work because a school might close, we'd be in a sorry state. Anyway it's digressing a bit. Whilst I wouldn't mind seeing summer term reduced a bit, say to 4 weeks and maybe having an odd week somewhere else in the year, I think going abroad (and indeed here) would become a very expensive nightmare, I can just see the suits in board rooms at Thomson, Thomas Cook and the likes all sitting round rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of jacking up prices even more as demand outstrips supply.

[themorrigan]

Why should schools timetables be geared to that of working parents? what a nightmare that would be, how would you work it? Are you suggesting kids should go to school at 8am and return at 6pm, therefore parallelling normal working hours? Don't people have to book their holidays well in advance? therefore they can book them when their kids are off can't they?

[ummmm]

The summer holidays are too long. The kids have no fields to harvest, no farm work to do, no siblings to mind.

People say that our kids in 2013 are grown before their time...how many in 2013 have jobs? How many have the responsibility of working hard or looking after the babies so the parents can work hard? Not many...

Change the holidays. It's easier for a working parent to get child care for 1 week than it is for 6 weeks.

[themorrigan]

rockyracoon I think you misunderstood me or I was not clear enough. the reference to babysitting was meant in regard to the summer holidays, not a criticism of working parents. With reference to your OP I think its utter stupidity to have schools with random holidays, but feel in reality it will only vary a week or two either way of what we have now, which happens already from county to county.

[ummmm]

How many kids do you have?

[rockyracoon]

It won't unduly affect me either way really and mine are old enough to look after themselves if I had to work. A couple of years ago a friend had kids in different schools (primary and secondary) the secondary kept Easter as the traditional 2 weeks with Easter weekend in the middle, the primary school had their holidays the 2 weeks before, she had a nightmare sorting that out.

Well, we'll see, wouldn't be surprised if the government did another u turn ;)

[emmie]

perhaps that would be the major problem, if each school is allowed to set it's own school time table, then how on earth would people cope if they have say three children of different ages at different schools. some children do go to school for that length of time, certainly early, and don't get back till late if there are after school classes or sports.