Government call for shorter school holidays

[Dogs Of War]

Im all for school holidays being shortened, by a vast amount.

 

We have just had 7 weeks of hell with kids everywhere you go :gag:

You couldnt shift for them everywhere.

 

Kids get weekends off school , thats more than enough in my opinion.

[Lorri]

I would prefer to see two weeks shaved off the summer break and one added onto the Christmas or Easter break and one onto the spring half term.

Another week at Easter? I think 2 weeks off in March/ April is enough, myself and many I know would prefer another week at Spring Bank when the weather is better like we always used to have

[espadrille]

I have always believed that 12 weeks a year jolidays are really too much. For a start it doesnt prepare kids at all for life in the real world, where in most jobs you are lucky to get 5 weeks a year paid leave.With some jobs you are fortunate enough to get 6 but I guess this is the top end of the scale.

It is OK if kids have a great social life and have lots of things to do and are very good at arranging to meet up and socialise with their friends/ and/or go on holiday camping or whatever with their parents for the 6 weeks as many do.

 

I think it would be best(gets ready to duck down) if schools just had less holidays full stop but I know that really wont go down well with the teaching profession.

I know they cram in so much in term time and I feel that it would give them more time for the curriculum if they had more term time and less holidays but this would be politically a very hot potato.

 

I can see where Frank Field is coming from. He talks a lot of sense but I really dont see how in these times we can afford a 25k payment up front. It just isnt gonna happen.

[espadrille]

Considering child labour is outlawed, they don't need a long summer vacation in order to work picking fruit etc. in the fields anymore.

 

Although, in all fairness, it might be best to have the children working.

 

A form of national service, but working in agriculture, but for all children, not just the poor ones.

 

It would certainly keep them off the streets!

 

My daughter came back yesterday after walking our 2 labrador puppies with a container full of blackberries that she had picked near to Endcliffe Park. Not only did we have a great pudding for afters it saved me money too and kept her busy for 3 hours!

[SiSiSi]

It makes sense to me. However, it's not only disadvantaged pupils who fall behind, but surely it's hard for most kids to pick up from where they left off after a six-seven week break? My son has just started secondary school and on day 2 had to sit his CATS. And how many kids are 'tutored' in the school holidays? Only those who are being hot housed or being prepared for some school entrance exam, surely?

 

Not only is the long summer break a veritable nightmare in terms of childcare for working parents, but even for those who don't work or take time off, it's an expensive time. Virtually everything these days costs money and you can't always rely on the weather to take them out for a walk or down to the park.

 

CAT assessments are tests of cognitive ability and as such kids can't be tutored for them.

[Suffragette1]

CAT assessments are tests of cognitive ability and as such kids can't be tutored for them.

 

I know that, however, they've still had 6-7 weeks since they were last engaged in learning so their brains may be a bit sluggish.

[HeadingNorth]

Abolishing the "school holiday" altogether and having a 51-week* school year, in which children can miss any six weeks of the parents' choice (exception exam weeks, I suppose) would be an ideal solution. Among other things, it would wipe out the excessively high demand for holiday resorts in August which causes prices to rise so much.

 

It would, though, need a radical revamp of the way children are taught, since at any one time at least one child is likely to be missing for the week out of a class.

 

 

*Well, they can still be off between Christmas and New Year.

[Guest sibon]

Abolishing the "school holiday" altogether and having a 51-week* school year, in which children can miss any six weeks of the parents' choice (exception exam weeks, I suppose) would be an ideal solution. Among other things, it would wipe out the excessively high demand for holiday resorts in August which causes prices to rise so much.

 

It would, though, need a radical revamp of the way children are taught, since at any one time at least one child is likely to be missing for the week out of a class.

 

 

 

And the teachers would get how much holiday, exactly?

 

Sounds like the sort of plan that Nick Clegg would embrace. Crazy. Unworkable. With massive soundbite potential.

[HeadingNorth]

And the teachers would get how much holiday, exactly?

 

The same would apply to teachers as to pupils; take leave when wanted, and the school brings in cover.

[cgksheff]

...........

Sounds like the sort of plan that Nick Clegg would embrace. Crazy. Unworkable. With massive soundbite potential.

 

How on earth does that represent a sensible contribution to the thread?