The long school summer holiday, which has stretched from July through to September for decades, should be abolished because it causes children to slip back educationally, a new study claims.

 

The Institute for Public Policy Research, a think-tank close to the government, found that children from the poorest backgrounds suffered most with 'summer learning loss' because they were the least likely to practise reading and writing during the six-week break. Calling for a four-week summer holiday instead, it also highlights an increase in youth offending over the summer months when children have less access to structured activities.

 

The report, 'Thursday's Child', criticises ministers for maintaining the structure of the school year despite the fact that it is based on the 'agrarian summer picking season'.

'Particular elements of the school system developed through time,' said Sonia Sodha, who co-authored the study with Julia Margo, an associate director at the think-tank.

 

'The long summer holiday was because children needed to take time off in the summer to help pick fruit.' Sodha argues that a preferable structure would involve five terms, each eight weeks long, with two before Christmas and three after. There would be a two-week break between terms and a month off in the summer. 'At the moment there is a very long autumn term,' said Sodha. 'Teachers talk about the phenomenon of children getting burnt out towards Christmas.'

 

One school in Essex which has tried the new system saw huge benefits in exam results. The number of pupils gaining five good GCSEs at Greensward College in Hockley rose from 70 per cent to 88 per cent.

 

But some parents have warned against a radical overhaul, stressing that children enjoy the long break. 'Parents have been consulted on the six-week holiday and the biggest percentage of them said they wanted to keep it,' said Margaret Morrissey of the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations. 'It is something they remember from their schooldays. You can argue that they fall back during the six weeks, but you could also argue that they get a chance to recharge their batteries.'

 

A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said: 'We encourage local authorities to adopt the standard school year and support the Local Government Association who set the dates. Ultimately, however, we leave it up to local authorities who best understand the circumstances in their area.'

 

Source: The Observer

 

To be honest, I'm more concerned with the length of University holidays. Over the course of a 52 week year, I'm off 4 weeks for Christmas, 5 weeks for Easter and 21 weeks for summer!! I spend longer on holiday than I do doing my bloody degree, and it's outrageous. I'm paying £3145 for 22 weeks of teaching (not to mention the fact that I only have 9 hours of contact time when I AM there), and I could do my course in about a year and a half if we actually were ever there and being taught and getting down to it. It's really no wonder students have a reputation as being lazy & as time-wasters. Personally I'd rather see University holidays cut down before schools' holidays, since a lot of students actually want to get on with the degree and get it done, instead of p***ing about having 30 weeks off a year!

 

In comparison, secondary education is hugely tough, and after all they are KIDS who need the break. But they're right that the terms are LOOONG.

Dear God no, I need a long break right now. My head is about to explode with knowledge.

 

Plus, Summer is a time (at least in the US) for kids to go do pre-college programs and visit colleges + do tons of other stuff. It's not all fun and games and sitting around. I'm going to Rhode Island School of Design to do an intensive six-week program in graphic design, and obviously with 4 weeks of summer I could not do that. It's a huge opportunity for me, and one that will probably help me get into better colleges + just be an overall great experience. On top of that I have 900 pages of reading to do (close read, meaning notes on the page), and it's a book that is in 8 different languages. We have a 110 page guide to it.

 

So, keep summer as it is imo.

6 weeks isnt too long and the time passes very quickly, slip back?... in that case if they leave school at 16, by 20 they are babies! :lol:

 

its nonsense.

and they want parents to make sure they have their summer holidays during these 6 weeks, then they whip them away :lol: Can't have it both ways.

 

To be honest, I'm more concerned with the length of University holidays. Over the course of a 52 week year, I'm off 4 weeks for Christmas, 5 weeks for Easter and 21 weeks for summer!! I spend longer on holiday than I do doing my bloody degree, and it's outrageous.

 

 

Like yikes! :lol: I only ever got 3 weeks for Christmas, and 2 for Easter, 1 reading week at the end of January (to let them chuck us out for Animex), and about 16 weeks for summer.

To be honest, I'm more concerned with the length of University holidays. Over the course of a 52 week year, I'm off 4 weeks for Christmas, 5 weeks for Easter and 21 weeks for summer!! I spend longer on holiday than I do doing my bloody degree, and it's outrageous. I'm paying £3145 for 22 weeks of teaching (not to mention the fact that I only have 9 hours of contact time when I AM there), and I could do my course in about a year and a half if we actually were ever there and being taught and getting down to it. It's really no wonder students have a reputation as being lazy & as time-wasters. Personally I'd rather see University holidays cut down before schools' holidays, since a lot of students actually want to get on with the degree and get it done, instead of p***ing about having 30 weeks off a year!

 

In comparison, secondary education is hugely tough, and after all they are KIDS who need the break. But they're right that the terms are LOOONG.

 

I'd have to agree with that tbh... When I did my degree we actually had 24 weeks of teaching (12 in each semester), then the uni decided to cut it to 22 in my final year (talk about bad timing..), the lecturers themselves were pretty outraged because they had to completely re-organise their teaching and the structure of the modules.... Dunno how you get 5 weeks for Easter though..... I only got two.... Oh, but then, because my degree didn't have exams (continual assessment), I technically had a six week Christmas break....

 

The reason for the length of Uni holidays is, they claim, to give the lecturers the opportunity to do research and to publish papers, books, etc.... To be fair, most of my lecturers did publish stuff and were pretty prolific in their field... So, it's not as if they were sat on their arses.....

 

I'd agree with uni, make it two years.

 

I've almost completed my first full year, the timetable has been

 

Freshers Week

8 Teaching Weeks

Reading Week (a week off, basically)

4 Teaching Weeks

Christmas Holidays (four weeks)

6 Teaching Weeks

Reading Week

2 Teaching Weeks

Easter Holiday (two weeks)

4 Teaching Weeks

5 Exam Weeks (which I have to sit 6 exams, it could easily just be a fortnight, maybe 3 weeks MAX!)

Summer Holidays (15 weeks)

 

23 weeks holiday a year. Ridiculous!

 

 

I'd agree with uni, make it two years.

 

Well, that wouldn't work tbh... How would lecturers do their research or write papers if they had no break during the Summer to do so....? It's especially important when talking about Humanities, Psychology and Politics degrees... Lecturers have to keep up on the new research being done in their fields, so the course they teach are up to date on all the new data and findings, and that requires them in most cases, being away from the uni to do it....

 

And frankly, most students are actually grateful for the long breaks because it gives them more time to do full-time work in order to be able to afford the course fees..... :lol:

I think it should be shortened compeltely and use the weeks to even out holidays across the year. At GCSE in particular you don't even get a week's 'half term' break because you're so busy doing coursework - its ridiculous.

 

I remember starting back at year 11 and having to fill stuff in and the girl I was sitting next to, took about half an hour to get used to writing again, because she 'forgot how to write' :lol:

Whilst I agree there needs to be some reorganisation of the school year - I think the 6 week summer break should be kept.

 

**bearing in mind I teach younger children.

Chilren do take a small backward step over the summer break but this is usually recovered within a couple of weeks and I personally dont feel it has any lasting affect.

 

Children need time to be children!!!

 

hammering teaching and lessons into them for longer without breaks will not improve progress.

 

However Easter does cause disruption to the school year, when like this year, it falls very early.

 

Some standard in the length of terms is needed - but a longer summer break should be kept - let kids get out in fresh air in summer - climb some trees - build some dens ....... or am I dreaming again???

Whilst I agree there needs to be some reorganisation of the school year - I think the 6 week summer break should be kept.

 

**bearing in mind I teach younger children.

Chilren do take a small backward step over the summer break but this is usually recovered within a couple of weeks and I personally dont feel it has any lasting affect.

 

Children need time to be children!!!

 

hammering teaching and lessons into them for longer without breaks will not improve progress.

 

However Easter does cause disruption to the school year, when like this year, it falls very early.

 

Some standard in the length of terms is needed - but a longer summer break should be kept - let kids get out in fresh air in summer - climb some trees - build some dens ....... or am I dreaming again???

 

:lol: :lol:

 

In all seriousness though, the depressing fact is, that you probably are... Most of today's lot are cooped up playing their Wiis, X-Boxes or on the Internet.... A long summer break never did me any harm... But of course, I was one of that generation of kids who did climb trees, go to the park, build dens, go out on the "berry buses"......

 

Kids are stopped from being kids nowadays, by the media, by parents who are paranoid about "paedos" (even though in fact that kids are no more statistically likely to be "snatched up" these days than they were in my youth...), and schools dont do as many trips anymore because of the whole American-style "compensation culture" that this country is in the grip of.

 

Well, that wouldn't work tbh... How would lecturers do their research or write papers if they had no break during the Summer to do so....? It's especially important when talking about Humanities, Psychology and Politics degrees... Lecturers have to keep up on the new research being done in their fields, so the course they teach are up to date on all the new data and findings, and that requires them in most cases, being away from the uni to do it....

 

And frankly, most students are actually grateful for the long breaks because it gives them more time to do full-time work in order to be able to afford the course fees..... :lol:

Odd really, most of my tutors just do it for a second job. One owns a pub, one owns his own consultancy firm...

:lol: :lol:

 

In all seriousness though, the depressing fact is, that you probably are... Most of today's lot are cooped up playing their Wiis, X-Boxes or on the Internet.... A long summer break never did me any harm... But of course, I was one of that generation of kids who did climb trees, go to the park, build dens, go out on the "berry buses"......

 

Kids are stopped from being kids nowadays, by the media, by parents who are paranoid about "paedos" (even though in fact that kids are no more statistically likely to be "snatched up" these days than they were in my youth...), and schools dont do as many trips anymore because of the whole American-style "compensation culture" that this country is in the grip of.

As well with school/compensation argument. How many schools are now completely fenced off now? When I was a child the three nearest comprehensives all had their fields open at all time to play on. Now, they're all completely fenced off. Why? Because of vandals and dogs, the amount of people who go and let their dogs $h!te all over a school field for children to fall in is frightening! <_<

As well with school/compensation argument. How many schools are now completely fenced off now? When I was a child the three nearest comprehensives all had their fields open at all time to play on. Now, they're all completely fenced off. Why? Because of vandals and dogs, the amount of people who go and let their dogs $h!te all over a school field for children to fall in is frightening! <_<

 

indeed, ive worked in schools for 30 years, at one time they were open to the community but due to vandalism and thefts they have had to be caged in and locked... and there has been members of the public PICNICING on the school field whilst the school was IN! no respect.

I think it should be shortened compeltely and use the weeks to even out holidays across the year. At GCSE in particular you don't even get a week's 'half term' break because you're so busy doing coursework - its ridiculous.

 

I remember starting back at year 11 and having to fill stuff in and the girl I was sitting next to, took about half an hour to get used to writing again, because she 'forgot how to write' :lol:

 

While I agree that many people forget things over the summer, I think the answer is definitely not to penalize the people who actually do productive things over the summer. If they wanna sit around and do nothing, it's their fault. A bit harsh, but I'm actually doing really important things this summer, and I would be furious if it was shortened because of idiots who think it's okay to just sit around and play video games for three months.

indeed, ive worked in schools for 30 years, at one time they were open to the community but due to vandalism and thefts they have had to be caged in and locked... and there has been members of the public PICNICING on the school field whilst the school was IN! no respect.

 

Fukkin' disgrace that..... <_< We never had any problems such as that with our playing fields when I was at school..... Me and my mates would occasionally go for a kickabout after school in the playing fields (in fact, sometimes the PE teachers would join IN with us.... :lol: ), no hassles at all from anyone.... Bet you cant do that these days at my old school.... :(

I always cherished my summer holidays - even if I didn't do a great deal with them. It was a chance to be a child for a long period of time and, yes, we used to head off for the whole day and were perfectly safe even though (as Charlie told us) there WERE curly-permed men in Austin Allegros that would offer us sweets and the chance to 'see his puppies'. But we were told never to speak to strangers and never did so.

 

Round the clock media and tabloid scaremongering / cash in exchange for stories of heartache / cash for having an accident is sending this whole country to the dogs...and no, I don't want to see those puppies either...they'll most probably $h!t all over my playing field.

I thought summer holiday was only five weeks and six at millenium!

I always cherished my summer holidays - even if I didn't do a great deal with them. It was a chance to be a child for a long period of time and, yes, we used to head off for the whole day and were perfectly safe even though (as Charlie told us) there WERE curly-permed men in Austin Allegros that would offer us sweets and the chance to 'see his puppies'. But we were told never to speak to strangers and never did so.

 

Round the clock media and tabloid scaremongering / cash in exchange for stories of heartache / cash for having an accident is sending this whole country to the dogs...and no, I don't want to see those puppies either...they'll most probably $h!t all over my playing field.

 

:lol: :lol:

 

I dont remember any curly-permed geezers in Allegroes tbh, it was some dodgy-looking c/unt in a Cortina (sans perm...) who tried the "bag of sweets and puppies" thing with me and a mate (who was my neighbour's kid)..... My mate punched him, and we ran off screaming for the "Polis".... :lol: :lol: Okay, I laugh about it now (esp given the way my friend reacted, no messing, just "f*** off you dirty old man" and WHACK in the chops), but in all seriousness, it was kinda scary as fukk..... But like I said, I dont think that kids are any more likely to be targets of that sort of thing now than they were back in the early 80s, and I certainly dont think it's a reason for kids to miss out on being kids (in fact, surely going out and playing in the parks is in some ways SAFER for kids than sitting at home on the 'net, being "groomed" by every pervy git that's out there)... Even though this happened, my folks still let me go to the park with my mates, they just said "make sure you dont walk home alone, stay in a group..". We did, cos we all lived on the same street, and nothing ever happened to us...

:lol: :lol:

 

I dont remember any curly-permed geezers in Allegroes tbh, it was some dodgy-looking c/unt in a Cortina (sans perm...) who tried the "bag of sweets and puppies" thing with me and a mate (who was my neighbour's kid)..... My mate punched him, and we ran off screaming for the "Polis".... :lol: :lol: Okay, I laugh about it now (esp given the way my friend reacted, no messing, just "f*** off you dirty old man" and WHACK in the chops), but in all seriousness, it was kinda scary as fukk..... But like I said, I dont think that kids are any more likely to be targets of that sort of thing now than they were back in the early 80s, and I certainly dont think it's a reason for kids to miss out on being kids (in fact, surely going out and playing in the parks is in some ways SAFER for kids than sitting at home on the 'net, being "groomed" by every pervy git that's out there)... Even though this happened, my folks still let me go to the park with my mates, they just said "make sure you dont walk home alone, stay in a group..". We did, cos we all lived on the same street, and nothing ever happened to us...

 

 

I remember using the same phrase myself - although was much to ladylike to hit anyone. :unsure:

 

maybe if a few more kids were taught such phrases instead of being terrified into being 'victims' and relying on a mobile phone in their pocket for protection ...

 

I think you wil find such a phrses works equally well on the internet ;)

 

 

statistics show kids are in no more danger of being snatched today than in the70s - indeedparks and open areas are much more child friendly if only parents would let the kids off the apron strings