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EXECUTIVE – 8 JULY 2003

SIX TERM SCHOOL YEAR: CONSULTATION ON SCHOOL TERM AND HOLIDAY DATES 2004/05

Briefing Note by Director for Learning & Culture

Introduction

  1. At its meeting on 10 June 2003 the Executive resolved to introduce a six term year following the significant support for the principles of such a model revealed by the prior consultation with schools and other stakeholders.

  2. At that meeting the Executive also resolved to increase the school holiday of one week and two days originally proposed for October 2004 to two whole weeks.

  3. Schools have since been consulted on these revised dates. The closing date for this supplementary consultation was Wednesday 2 July. This note outlines the principal issues raised by the supplementary consultation.

    4. Desirability of making a change in parallel with geographical neighbours

  4. 30 respondents pointed to the potential difficulty caused by Oxfordshire implementing a six term year in advance of all its geographical neighbours. This matter had been raised during the original consultation

    5. Length of October break

  5. The Executive had originally proposed extending the school holiday in October to two weeks on the basis of support for a longer holiday than one week expressed in the original consultation. However 26 respondents to the supplementary consultation revealed considerable concern about a full two weeks holiday at that time in the school year. The concern was partly that, on educational grounds, it would undesirable to have so long a break so soon in the school year and also that October is not a particularly good time for families/children to have holidays (poor weather and light).

    6. The gap between Easter and school holiday

  6. Central to the introduction of six terms of more equal length than hitherto is the need to determine the school holiday independently of the Easter weekend. In most years this will not be difficult as the Easter weekend will fall naturally in the school holiday. In 2004/05 however there is a gap of 4 days between the Easter weekend and the school holiday. Concerns have been expressed in both the original and supplementary (28 responses) consultations that this might result in increased levels in authorised and unauthorised pupil absence.

    7. Christmas holiday too short

  7. 16 respondents expressed concern at the slightly shorter length of the Christmas holidays than usual in the context of the particular need at that time of year for sufficient time to be available for family activities and rest and recuperation.

    8. Summer holidays too short Possible contractual difficulties with starting term on 31 August

  8. 10 respondents suggested that the summer holiday was too short. 6 respondents pointed to possible contractual difficulties with a 31 August start of term. Such difficulties are technical and can be overcome as they have been in other authorities.

    9. Days for In-Service Training (INSET)

  9. There is an expectation that teachers will be available to participate in 5 INSET days in each academic year. In recent years the custom and practice in Oxfordshire has been to determine (centrally) some of the 5 days and leave schools to determine the remainder – these may comprise, in whole or in part, ‘twilight’ sessions. 6 respondents to the supplementary consultation expressed concern at the difficulty of finding INSET days in 2004/05. The identification of INSET days may be harder than for some other years. However this is not a ‘six term’ issue but one which occurs from time to time under the three term system.

    10. Co-operation with Colleges of FE

  10. It has been noted that care will need to be taken to liaise carefully with colleges of FE which provide cooperative 14-19 arrangements with schools.

KEITH BARTLEY
Director for Learning & Culture

Background Papers: Nil

Contact Officer: John Mitchell. Tel: 01865 815619

July 2003

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