School holidays should be moved and the summer break changed, Ofsted chief says

The academic calendar needs a ‘good old look’ to prevent children from sitting exams in the hottest part of the year and parents worrying about a long summer break, the head of Ofsted has said.

Experts say kids are losing momentum, while working parents face rising childcare costs to cover the holidays.

The majority of state schools in England have six weeks’ holiday in the summer, two weeks’ holidays at Christmas and Easter, and a one-week half-term break for each of the three terms. Some schools offer a longer two-week break in October.

But according to Ofsted chief Martyn Oliver, the timing of the holiday may not be in the best interests of parents or children.

And the way the school calendar is structured now means students are taking exams as the weather starts to warm up.

Oliver stated that there is a discussion about reviewing and changing school terms and added that the issue is definitely ‘up for debate’.

To talk Finance TimesHe said: ‘May, June and July are generally quite hot, right at the point where you’re asking kids to sit down and take the test… so I think there’s a need to take an old look at this. [the school year].’

As for the length of holidays on offer, he said it was ‘odd’ and added: ‘It’s interesting to think that the holiday period is largely determined around the harvest fields.

The way the academic calendar is currently set up means exams will be held in the warmer months

‘I think it’s time to rethink school holidays.’

Oliver had previously touched on the length of holidays provided to school students, stating that most students devote only 190 days of the 365 days of the year to education.

In Ireland, France, Spain and Italy, schools offer fewer half term holidays but longer summer holidays.

But a recent survey has found that parents in the UK would be in favor of reducing summer holidays to four weeks, with longer semesters.

Research by the charity Parentkind found that many families highlight childcare as an issue spanning the summer months.

Most teachers also support a four-week vacation as long as they don’t lose out on the total amount of vacation they received for the year.

Previous studies have shown that students regress during holidays because they abandon their reading and writing practices.

The charity’s research, conducted in July, is based on its own survey of 3,000 parents and a separate survey of 9,000 teachers by Teacher Tapp.

A recent survey found that parents in the UK are in favor of reducing the summer holiday to four weeks and extending the half-term break

It was revealed that 53 per cent of parents support plans to reduce the school summer holiday from six weeks to four weeks, while only 33 per cent oppose it.

Many parents opt for two-week half term holidays and a longer Christmas break.

A shorter summer holiday was considered a financial positive by 32 percent of parents, while 17 percent of parents viewed it as a negative.

Among parents of children entitled to free school meals, the proportion supporting these reasons has risen to 47 per cent.

While 37 per cent of parents overall and 43 per cent of those whose children are eligible for free school meals said a shorter break would be beneficial for childcare, 14 per cent overall said it would be detrimental.

The Teacher Tapp survey found that 62 per cent of teachers would agree to a shorter summer break, with 38 per cent supporting a reduction from six weeks to five weeks and 24 per cent in favor of reducing the summer break to four weeks.

But while 35 percent wanted to stick to the traditional six weeks, the rest had different answers.

Jason Elsom, managing director of Parentkind, said: ‘While children undoubtedly look forward to long periods away from school, the long summer holidays can be a challenge for some parents.

‘Our large survey of parents shows most parents would like to take two weeks off from the six-week summer holiday to give teachers and children a month off.

‘Parents tell us a shorter summer holiday would help with costs and childcare, which would be particularly welcome at a time when some families are struggling to keep their heads above water.

‘We need to make sure that long summer holidays do not create further stress and difficulties for parents, especially those on low incomes.’

A recent survey by Coram found that summer holiday childcare costs in Britain rose by 4 per cent last year, to an average of £179 per week per child. Periodically it is almost three times the price of the after-school club.

The Daily Mail has approached Ofsted for comment.