Move To Axe Six-Week Summer Holiday 'Will Cause Chaos'
Parents today called for school holidays to be set nationally amid fears an overhaul of rules surrounding term dates will “cause chaos” for families.
Figures show that more than three-quarters of mothers and fathers are concerned that Government reforms – devolving complete control over the timing of the academic year – will create major problems for families with children at different schools.
It was claimed that the move flew in the face of Government claims to make the nation the most “family friendly” in Europe because it would make it almost impossible to plan childcare.
Under the Coalition’s new Deregulation Bill, local councils will be stripped of powers to tell schools when terms should start and end.
The change – from September 2015 – paves the way for individual schools in England to introduce longer terms and cut school holidays.
It places particular question marks over the current six-week summer break amid fears that pupil performance dips in July and August, damaging their education and leaving them lagging behind peers in the Far East.