School Term and Holiday Dates 2006/07

The school term and holiday dates for the 2006/07 school year are now published and can be accessed through the following link: http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/consumption/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=3175

The dates have been set following discussions with other eastern region LEAs, the JCC Teachers' Panel and the Service Improvement Group.

The dates are very similar to those adopted by most of the other eastern region LEAs. For example, the dates of the Christmas, Easter and the half-term holiday periods are the same as those adopted by Cambridgeshire and Suffolk.

The 193 day pattern is retained for 2006/07. Consistent with the approach taken for 2004/05 and 2005/06, the first day of the Autumn, Spring and Summer terms are identified as set training days. The two remaining staff development days are to be set by the school as disaggregated, equivalent amount of time in after-school sessions or set during pupil's holiday periods.

The advantages and disadvantages of this pattern have been considered and it has been concluded that on the whole the pattern has worked well. It was felt that 'twilight sessions' give teachers opportunities for self-managed development and also provide the opportunity for training to be targeted at individuals, meaning that all staff do not have to be present at the same time. It was also felt that the arrangement provided more certainty for parents about holiday dates and was particularly helpful to parents with children at different schools and for school staff with childcare responsibilities. The pattern of having 190 fixed teaching days also minimises transport costs. Concerns have been expressed that occasionally there have been problems for schools getting trainers on the fixed training days. In response to this, the Advisory Service will be looking at ways in which the maximum number of trainers can be made available on the set training days.

Since the 193 day pattern was implemented for the 2004/05 school year, schools have also had the option to set either or both of the remaining two development days during pupil's holiday periods. Due to the way the calendar falls, there is less flexibility for this in 2006/07 and schools are advised to avoid the summer holiday period up to Friday, 1st September, the half-terms and the fortnight Easter holiday period.

The 193 day arrangement enables the six week summer holiday period for teachers to be retained in 2006. By comparison, to achieve a 195 day pattern within the calendar, both Cambridgeshire and Suffolk have opted to commence the school year with a staff development day on Friday 1st September, therefore reducing the length of the summer holiday period for teachers.

Finally, headteachers are reminded that the193 day pattern, whereby 190 teaching days and three training days are set, applies also to the 2005/06 school year.