Headteachers and Chairs of Governors of Norfolk Maintained Schools

 

 

 

 

 

Bryan Slater

Director of Education

Distribution
 

This document seeks your feedback to help us to take your views into consideration.

This document seeks your feedback to help us to take your views into consideration.ACTION

Title

School Term and Holiday Dates 2005/06

Summary of contents

Feedback is invited on the pattern of dates to be adopted by Norfolk County Council for school year 2005/06.  As usual, there are different models which can be considered and we would welcome your views to help us decide the pattern for adoption.  Details of the options are attached.

 

We will consider the views received with a view to publishing the 2005/06 dates by the end of March.    

Associated documents

 

 

Date

January 2004

Summary of action required

Headteachers are requested to consult staff and let us have a consensus staff view using the attached pro-forma.  Additional copies of the form are attached to enable heads and chairs of governors to make separate returns.    

 

Please return feedback forms to Malcolm Reeve, c/o Strategic Core, Education Department, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich, NR1 2DL.

 

Returns can be completed on-line by accessing the proforma on the School Administration Section of the School Management Resources site.

 

To be completed by

Friday 12 March

LEA Contact

Malcolm Reeve

(

01603 222228

E-mail address

malcolm.reeve@norfolk.gov.uk

 

Norfolk Self Review reference

1. How high are standards?

3. How well are pupils taught?

5. How well does the school care for its pupils?

6. How well does the school work in partnership with parents?

7. How well is the school led and managed?

 

Document reference

MI  26/04

 

 

 

School Term and Holiday Dates 2005/06

 

National perspective

Model A

 

The Independent Commission on the Organisation of the School Year which championed the six term year proposals has been disbanded and replaced by the LGA Standing Committee on the School Year.  This new committee has wider, more inclusive membership, including the national representatives of the main teacher associations.  The focus appears to have moved away from the six-term model as such but remains firmly focused on providing national and regional standardisation based on the two principles of year-on-year predictability and more even teaching and learning blocks. 

 

The Local Government Association (LGA) has recently published the committee’s recommendations for 2005/06 (Model A).  This provides a calendar of 190 days, commencing on Monday 5 September, therefore providing a six week summer holiday period.  There is an 8 day break in October.  The Christmas holiday period consists of two weeks without three weekends.  The spring and summer terms are more even in length by having the Good Friday and Easter Monday Bank holiday period at the end of the two week holiday period.

 

The five Inset days must be found outside of this calendar although the LGA suggests that some of these days may be disaggregated into the equivalent amount of time in after-school sessions. 

   

Regional perspective

Model B

 

There is reluctance amongst some LEAs in the Eastern Region to move away from a published 195 day calendar.  To achieve a 195 day calendar based on the LGA recommended structure it is suggested in Model B that the school year should begin on Monday 1 September and that the October half-term holiday should consist of one week.  The remaining calendar would mirror the dates recommended by the Standing Committee.  To avoid high pupil absence at the start of term, the 1st and 2nd of September would be designated as training days with the other three days identified by schools within the calendar.  This model would give less than six weeks summer holiday for teaching staff.

 

Local perspective

Models C & D

 

As you will be aware, in Norfolk we have adopted a 193 day calendar for 2004/05 with three set training days and two to be set by the school outside of the calendar or consisting of aggregated time.  The arguments for adopting this approach were that the 195 day calendar arrangement was producing significant additional transport costs where schools on the same bus route were not co-ordinating dates and the approach was also seen as a step towards meeting the national recommendations to create a standard school year. 

 

Retaining a 193 day pattern in 2005/06, would provide the opportunity to make slight variations to the LGA’s dates.  For example, in Model C, by having a 193 day calendar, starting with a staff training day on Friday 2 September, having one week only in October and commencing the Spring term on Tuesday 3 January, it would be possible to break for Christmas on Friday 16 December, giving two full weeks and three weekends at Christmas.  This, however, may result in less standardisation with our regional neighbours during the Christmas holiday period.  This model does not provide extra days in October or a full six week summer holiday. 

 

Greater standardisation would result through the adoption of a 193 day calendar through Model D and this is our preferred model.  This option mirrors model B, except that the Autumn term would commence on Monday, 5 September, giving six weeks summer holiday.  However, the Christmas period would not include three weekends.  This model also does not provide extra days in October or three weekends at Christmas.