Following the Isle of Wight council Cabinet’s decision last week to scrap the two week October half-term holiday from 2023, the Shadow Cabinet member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills got in touch to share his view.
The Scrutiny Committee argued that more consultation should take place before the term dates were set.
Brading: Alarming and disrespectful
Cllr Paul Brading (Con) told News OnTheWight,
“I am very concerned that Cllr Andre thinks it is right and proper to make important decisions on children’s education without seeing the need to consult with parents at all.
“The decision to follow her personal belief and remove the two-week October half-term in this way is alarming and disrespectful.”
Two thirds of parents wanted it
The councillor for Lake South, who held Cllr Andre’s role prior to the May 2021 election, explained,
“The introduction of this two week half-term followed an extensive and properly constructed consultation in 2017 which received 1,877 responses, a higher response than to any previous Council consultation.
“From this an overwhelming two thirds of respondents supporting the model of a shorter Summer Holiday and a two week half term in October. So this was implemented and there have been so many positive comments from schools and feedback from parents.”
It’s an annual process
Cllr Brading went on to add,
“The consultation Cllr Andre tries to refer to is the standard annual process when we advise schools of the planned timetable, it is not a consultation at all as only goes to headteachers.
“It is interesting to note that the only difference this year was that it was sent out twice because of the extremely poor response rate when it was originally sent. This was followed by her claims that ‘Heads know what their parents want?’.
“From the small handful of comments made by Head Teachers the main issue raised was the shortening of the Christmas Holiday, rather than any comments about the half term she has chosen to remove.”
Brading: Decision shows a total lack of respect
Cllr Brading finished by telling News OnTheWight,
“This decision shows a total lack of respect for the views of parents, and the wider community.
“Ironically I have now received an email on another matter from Cllr Love the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care. He states the new Administration is ‘increasing community inclusion, participation and engagement’. The way this decision has been made sadly shows they are doing exactly the opposite.”
