Barnsley Council in South Yorkshire has cut the length of time pupils are off for the summer by one week, with the kids returning at the usual time in September.
The new rules, which are to come into place for the school year 2017/ 2018, is to help stop “learning loss” over the summer. There will be a two-week break in October to make up for the cut.
Explaining how five weeks off is enough for the “best educational outcomes”, Councillor Tim Cheetham said: “The decision to alter the borough's term times and holiday dates is based on sound research evidence that shows the maximum length of the summer break should be no more than five weeks for the best educational outcomes."
According to the Express, headteacher Nick Bowen from Horizon community college said that the change will be a disaster "because most of the academies in the area probably won't come on board with it” meaning everyone will have different holidays.
Highlighting the need for teachers to recharge their batteries during the summer, Mr Bowen also said parents would have to take kids out of school if various school term times didn't match.
However, Barnsley Council said that the move offered economic benefits to working parents and was a positive change to the school calendar.
With the length of the summer break being a financial burden on a lot of parents, would you like to see this being implemented here in Ireland?
