I knew Gove was a prat but .....

[jgmcdee]

Surely this could be of benefit to business if every employee with children isn't fighting to take annual leave in the same period.

And a detriment to business if you have an 8- or 10-week period where only 3/4 of the staff are in at any one time rather than the current 6-week period where 2/3 of the staff are in. A lot of countries on the continent are like this, where it's very difficult to reach any major decision from the end of July to the beginning of September.

 

[Lincoln Imp]

Its so the thik kid's can spend more time @ school and less time theeving, smoking crack and genrally running a mock.

OAKMEEDS CLASS OF '86.

Knowing quite a few people who went to Oakmeeds I cannot be absolutely sure that this post is a joke.

I don't know enough to be for or against Gove's latest policy but surely predictions of the end of the world are a bit overcooked - I thought about two-thirds of secondary schools and one third of primaries already had some choice about dates.

 

[Steve.S]

A lot of over reaction on here, a lot of schools in area tend to work closely with each other and to suggest that holidays will become a nightmare is just scaremongering. Are we to suggest that schools will set Christmas or Easter at different times of the year and as most schools will follow a more even term times. I think the main difference would be around the counties where they may differ more.

 

[Bold Seagull]

And a detriment to business if you have an 8- or 10-week period where only 3/4 of the staff are in at any one time rather than the current 6-week period where 2/3 of the staff are in. A lot of countries on the continent are like this, where it's very difficult to reach any major decision from the end of July to the beginning of September.

You surely already have this? The majority of staff without children will generally pick their holidays outside school holidays. Private schools already stagger their holidays compared to state schools. I don't think it will effect businesses as much as you're making out.

On the continent they have actual shut down periods, like in Italy where manufacturing basically shuts down completely for 2 weeks in August, and all employees take their holidays at this time.

 

[Super Steve Earle]

I'd sooner believe Gove than a teacher on most things, but not this one. The holiday firms will just charge higher prices for longer, so no gain there. Plus it will be harder for people who want holidays without chilldren around (like me - been there and done that) to find cheaper off peak hols. So this tome, 0/10 Mr Gove. Must try harder!

 

[narly101]

Gove has shown on multiple occasions that he is an utter bellend in a job far too complex for him to cope with

+1000. The man is a complete and utter flap knacker. a Cock Juggling Thunder **** if you will.

 

[The Large One]

I'd sooner believe Gove than a teacher on most things, but not this one. The holiday firms will just charge higher prices for longer, so no gain there. Plus it will be harder for people who want holidays without chilldren around (like me - been there and done that) to find cheaper off peak hols. So this tome, 0/10 Mr Gove. Must try harder!

Fair play for the rest of the post, but I'm struggling with the realities of the bit in bold.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

+1000. The man is a complete and utter flap knacker. a Cock Juggling Thunder **** if you will.

"flap knacker" - I need to remember to use that in general conversation !

 

[Normandy seagull]

+1000. The man is a complete and utter flap knacker. a Cock Juggling Thunder **** if you will.

brilliant

 

[amexee]

I don't agree with that. I think county councils ought to be able to decide. The problem at the moment is that half term/term dates are syncronised across the country (except in one or two counties, such as Leicestershire) and it means parents pay a fortune for holidays as demand rockets for flights/accomodation in the holiday. If your half term dates were any one of three possible weeks, I'd have thought that would impact the cost of holidays.

Obviously it would need to be set at county council level because people have kids in more than one school.

But this is basic stuff. I can't believe Michael Gove is such a complete tool as to fail to realise this.

100% agree. Set it locally, but hope that there is a range across the country, stopping the travel industry from the outrageous price hikes that are currently the norm. Mind you having just come out the other side of school issues, I can take holidays a week earlier and save loads now (so maybe, don't change)

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

At first glance, it doesn't seem like a very good idea - anyone who thinks it will result in cheaper holidays is wrong, as the Airlines/Tour Operators will just extend the 'Peak Period' of higher prices. I am however sure that Schools in the same area would liaise with term dates.

Having said that - the 6 week Summer Holidays need to be looked at - the historical reason for the length of these was so that boys could help their fathers with the harvest.

Why do kids (and University students as well) need so much time off?

How about four terms - two weeks off at Easter, two at Christmas, four in the summer and two in October? No half terms?

Still ten weeks holidays, surely enough?

Oh, and for those moaning about Childminding - surely school is for Education, not a baby sitting service.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Oh, and for those moaning about Childminding - surely school is for Education, not a baby sitting service.

It's nothing to do with "in term" time and everything to do with out of term time. That's when childcare is needed and by staggering holidays it means an awful high cost to parents with more than one child.

 

[Norman Potting]

Because teachers won't be that concerned over the change - it's not them who will 'suffer', at least not in their capacity as a teacher.

It will be families with, for example, children at different schools.

Perhaps I should point out that you can be a teacher, AND have a family - that will make Mr Goves proposal even more disruptive.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

It's nothing to do with "in term" time and everything to do with out of term time. That's when childcare is needed and by staggering holidays it means an awful high cost to parents with more than one child.

I really can't see schools within the same LEA having different holidays.

That WOULD be madness.

 

[jgmcdee]

I really can't see schools within the same LEA having different holidays.

That WOULD be madness.

So if it's totally mad for two schools under the same LEA to have different term times why is it so sane for two schools in neighbouring LEAs to have different term times?

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

You surely already have this? The majority of staff without children will generally pick their holidays outside school holidays. Private schools already stagger their holidays compared to state schools. I don't think it will effect businesses as much as you're making out.

On the continent they have actual shut down periods, like in Italy where manufacturing basically shuts down completely for 2 weeks in August, and all employees take their holidays at this time.

I think you'll struggle to find any Manufacturing in Italy that works ANY time in August.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

So if it's totally mad for two schools under the same LEA to have different term times why is it so sane for two schools in neighbouring LEAs to have different term times?

Where did I say that would be sane?

All I said was that the six week summer holiday needs to be looked at.

 

[jgmcdee]

I think that we're getting away from the important point, which is that school holidays should be synchronised with the football schedules so that we can bring them with us to every match.

 

[CorgiRegisteredFriend]

The reality is the government do not like the six week summer holiday and this is their backhand way of abolishing it. Schools will soon be operating for much longer terms and days.

 

[ATFC Seagull]

Having said that - the 6 week Summer Holidays need to be looked at - the historical reason for the length of these was so that boys could help their fathers with the harvest.

Actually I think kids need some time away from the classroom - for sports, being creative, just generally being outside and innocent, making the most of life before they get older and have a job, bills and responsibilities. I certainly wouldn't begrudge kids that. Pretty sure that whilst historically you may be correct (although I am far from certain), the rationale of it continuing pretty much worldwide in this day and age is the one I've given. And summer is the best time for kids to be out and about, for obvious reasons.

I'm not sure, but don't most European countries (and Australia, USA and others) have longer summer holidays than England anyway?

How about four terms - two weeks off at Easter, two at Christmas, four in the summer and two in October? No half terms?

Ask any educational expert (teacher or otherwise) and they will tell you that that is completely the wrong way around. Whether people like to accept it or not, kids are worked bloody hard at school - and they aren't grown ups: a lot of them hate it and fail to see the necessity of it in a way that adults may feel about going to work in order to provide for themselves/family etc. It's an absolute fact that kids learn less and become harder to manage towards the end of a long term. If anything (and I actually think the current setup is not too bad) you want to move towards breaking the terms up into shorter chunks, not longer.