Views sought on two-week October half term

Last year the council agreed to try out a longer autumn break for 2018 and 2019, and also to consider the impact of the change before making any decisions further into the future.

This year, the all the city’s schools tried out the two-week half term set by the council, from Monday October 16 to Friday October 27.

Next year the following schools will opt for a one-week autumn half-term from October 22 to 26, rather than the two-week break set for the city’s community schools: Cardinal Newman Catholic School; Cottesmore St Mary's Catholic Primary School; King’s School; St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School; St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School; St Joseph's Catholic Primary School; St Mary Magdalen Catholic Primary School; St Mary’s Catholic Primary School.

Other schools will see next year's autumn half term run from Monday, October 22 to Friday, November 2.

Brighton and Hove City Council said its survey will not only look at residents’ views, but also the impact of the two-week break on overall attendance, the progress pupils have made this term, and the experiences of staff.

A report on the results of the consultation will be considered by the council’s children, young people and skills committee on March 5, 2018.

The council said the extra week’s holiday in October aims to enable families to have more flexibility about when they can spend time together without missing school, and to take excursions or holidays outside the peak holiday period.

It was also hoped that the measure would help address the issue of parents taking their children out of school during term-time for unauthorised holidays, missing valuable learning.

The council is running an online survey on the impact of the recent two-week break.

The survey will be open from today (December 11) to January 31.

To take part in the survey, visit: www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/autumn-half-term-survey