How Many School Terms?

One area we need to consider is whether change is required to the structure of the school year.  Research indicates that the long summer break disrupts the learning of many pupils and can create real problems for some children and families.  The aim of the research is to seek the views of school governors and headteachers on whether further consideration should be given to the current pattern of the school year and if so, what the pattern of the school year should be.

The findings from these soundings, amongst other things, will help to inform whether further consultation should be carried out on any formal proposals in the future.  Any future decision to change the pattern of the school year would only be taken following extensive public consultation with parents, school governors, headteachers, teachers and other stakeholders involved in the provision of children's services.

Further information on the customer insight research can be found in the document How many school terms? which contains details on the different options for organising the school year. 

Let us know your views.

We will be conducting the customer insight research on the pattern of the school year at the beginning of the Spring term and the deadline for responses is 1 March 2011.   We intend to report back on the findings of the customer insight research by the end of the Spring term at the appropriate consultative groups. 

You can get involved by:-

• responding, and encouraging others to respond to the research;
• discussing this document with others. You might want to talk to colleagues, parents, and other school groups;
• you can let us know your views online, by e-mail or in writing using the contact details listed in the document.

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