Isle of Wight schoolchildren will have a two week October half-term holiday once again, following extensive consultation.
The move was approved by the Isle of Wight Council’s cabinet last night (Thursday).
They had originally changed the school term dates, last July, to a one week holiday.
One week this year
It means this October (2022), pupils will only have a one week holiday with a longer break at Christmas, but revert back to two weeks in October 2023.
The two-week October half term holiday was first introduced in 2019 to improve pupils’ attendance during the autumn term – but got a mixed reaction.
The move back to a one week break was also criticised for a lack of consultation.
57 per cent supported the two-week break
Cllr Debbie Andre, cabinet member for education, said they had carried out consultation after recognising a need for it, ready to set the term dates for the 2023/24 school year.
More than 3,250 people responded to the council’s consultation with 57 per cent supporting the two-week break compared to 31 per cent in favour of the one-week.
Bacon: Not convinced of educational merit of two-week holiday
Cllr Jonathan Bacon criticised the national inflexibility of term-time holidays, which have been in place for some years now.
He said he was not convinced of the educational merit the two-week holiday brings but recognised a proper consultation had been carried out and was happy to go along with the result.
The now-approved term dates for 2023/24 are as follows:
- Autumn Term – 1st September 2023 to 19th December — with a half term from 23rd October to 3rdNovember
- Spring Term – 2nd January 2024 to 28th March — with a half term from 12th February to 16th February
- Summer Term – 15th April 2024 to 26th July — with a half term from 27th May to 31st May
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
