The decision by some schools to give children an extra week off to allow parents “cheaper holidays” has split opinion. Under the scheme, children will be given an extra week off over the Autumn half term, with school days extended to make up for the time lost. Critics argue that the additional week will increase the childcare burden for many whilst others believe that the changes “dumb down” education.
However, headteachers leading the changes argue that it will help parents by allowing them to avoid the significant price hikes on school holiday travelling and will allow teachers an opportunity to reenergise themselves by making it easier for them to get away. Chris McGovern, the chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said: “We have to ask what’s more important – a passport to Majorca or a passport to children’s futures?”
He told the Daily Mail: “We need to be upping the academic demands on children. This is dumbing down.
“Children need to have shorter lessons, rather than longer lessons. They get tired during the day.
“They have to provide a minimum number of hours per year, so in theory they could just make days longer and longer and the number of days shorter and shorter.”
North Walsham High School in Norfolk, one of the schools spearheading the changes, told parents that the measures “would provide an opportunity for parents and carers to access cheaper holidays.”
They said: “Over the past few years, we have had numerous requests for holidays which we cannot authorise.
“At a time when sickness increases due to the winter months and fatigue, this would add a lengthier break into the longest term to support a reduction in absence – as students would have a greater opportunity to rest and enjoy the break.
“This would also give staff the chance for a better break and ensure less absence, thus minimising cover lessons and ensuring staff are rested, so they can continue to do an excellent job.”
Research by the charity Parentkind found that many parents believe the summer holidays are too long and would like to see them shortened in place of longer half terms.
Some schools in England have already signalled an intention to look at shortening the six-week summer break by two weeks, with an extra week added onto the October and February half term holiday.
A spokesman for the Enrich Learning Trust, which runs some of the schools considering the changes, said that not every school in its control would adopt the measures.
They said: “Having consulted with their school communities, they are planning a pilot of a two-week half-term in October 2025, with the aim of improving attendance in the second half of the autumn term, having had a slightly longer break.
“It is our understanding that this is something that is being tested by other trusts too.”