To: Headteachers and Chair

of Governors

Dear Colleague

Term Dates 2004/05

You may recall that I wrote to you on 21 January (MI 18/03) inviting feedback on the pattern of term dates to be adopted for school year 2004/05. Two patterns of dates were suggested:

Option A: the dates recommended by the Independent Commission on the Organisation of the School Year, and

Option B: a more traditional pattern which would provide a step forward in evening out the length of terms across the year within the spirit of the Commission’s recommendations.

I would like to thank all who responded to our request for feedback. In total, 265 schools responded and a clear majority expressed a preference for Option B. A large number of comments were also received which included:

§ responses which expressed disappointment that a more radical approach (such as a five term year) was not being adopted to ensure terms of more equal length;

§ comments that stressed the importance of having a minimum of two full weeks with three weekends at Christmas;

§ contrasting views on the length of the October holiday period. Some respondees preferred a two week break as initially suggested by the Commission. Others preferred the additional two days to be taken at other times, e.g. Christmas, June or Summer;

§ support for fixing the Easter holiday period but also concerns that the four days between Easter and the holiday period shown in the Commission’s proposals could lead to greater absenteeism.

Norfolk County Council’s Cabinet has considered these responses and concluded that the dates shown in Option B should be adopted for 2004/05. The agreed dates are attached to this letter.

Key features of the dates are:

• the school year will commence on Wednesday, 1^st September with a professional development day. As the last day of term in 2003/04 is 19 July, the summer holiday period will be six weeks long. Pupils will commence on Thursday, 2^nd September;

• Autumn half-term is extended to seven days and includes the usual last full week in October;

• the Christmas holiday includes two full weeks and three weekends;

• Easter is early in 2005 and the holiday period is realigned to even out the length of terms. Consequently, schools finish for the traditional fortnight break on the Thursday before Good Friday;

• the dates provide an envelope of 193 days instead of 195 days (190 teaching days and three professional development days).

The three dates identified for professional development days are Wednesday, 1^st September, Tuesday 4^th January and Monday, 11^th April. The remaining two professional development days should be set by the school during pupils’ holiday periods or consist of aggregated ‘twilight hours’ consisting of periods after school or at weekends. This arrangement will eliminate additional transport costs arising from the situation where schools on the same bus routes have uncoordinated training days. The occurrence of uncoordinated training days has been identified as a significant problem in relation to ever-increasing transport costs. Indeed, it would be helpful if schools could take steps to minimise this problem during school year 2003/04 by coordinating training days with neighbouring schools whenever possible.

Our calendar of dates is very similar to those planned by Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, with whom we have worked closely. Apart from arrangements for professional development days, the only difference is that they have included 21 and 22 October as term dates to provide an envelope of 195 days.

Feedback received from schools in response to our consultation will be forwarded to the Local Government Association for consideration by the Independent Commission on the Organisation of the School Year when drawing up their proposals for 2005/06. On receipt of their proposals in the Autumn Term, further consultations will be undertaken with neighbouring authorities, schools, professional associations and diocesan boards before any further dates are agreed and published.

Yours sincerely

Bryan Slater

Director of Education