School term dates..

doom

Hi all.

Not sure if this is the best place to post this so apologies just in case.

Does anyone know if school term dates are set or can different schools change them about?

Can Independant / Private schools choose their own term dates or do they still have to go with everyone else?

I have googled term dates and the summer term seems to end around the 22nd, 23rd or 24th July in most places, but my daughter's Independant school finished on the 11th July .

Are they allowed to finish the term when they like or are they most likely doing a sneaky trick to get more money from parents who have to send their kids to the summer holiday club at £80 + per week?

i.e., end the term a week early and get 20 kids in for an extra week of holiday club at £80 + per week, hey presto, an extra £1600 + for the school.

What do you guys think about this.....

shirlgirl2004

Hi

Independent schools can do whatever they like. My DD's school finished on the 12th at noon. It's fairly common in the independent sector for the holidays to be longer. On the positive it means you can take your hols why the prices are slightly cheaper because most other schools in England are not on holiday.

State schools have their terms decided by the Education Authority.

prettypennies

Not sure about independant schools, but for state schools the local education authority sets the term dates. The school then have inset days and occasional days which they can take when they choose (9 days in my LEAs case).

My sons attend a catholic school and their holidays can vary by up to a week from the school I work at.

beautifulgorgeous_2

My nephew`s independant school finished on the 3rd July! It works out at about ten quid an hour when he is there and he`s not six yet

daveyjp

All schools set their own dates - even schools in the same Council area could finish on different dates.. Independent schools usually finish 1 to 2 weeks before state schools. Friends daughter at independent finished on 12th, most local state schools finished 19th or will finish on any day next week.

Janepig

I believe they usually have different half terms too - my brother always used to have a different half term to me (he went to private school, I went to comp - my choice). Having said that, I always assumed that they had the same amount of holidays, just at slightly different times, I didn't realise they did less than state schools. I suppose DD might as well have finished about two weeks before she did because all they've done is watch DVD's and play games.

Jxx

Nenen

Independent schools have always had shorter terms than state schools... certainly as far back as I can remember (when I was at a state school and friends were at private schools 40+ years ago) and this was long before private schools offered any holiday child-care facilities. Most independent schools work for longer hours each day during term time than state schools plus they usually offer after school activities (often free). Some work Saturday mornings too, although this is gradually becoming less common with the reduction of boarding. As a teacher who has worked in both state and private schools, I can honestly say that I work more hours during a year teaching in a private school.

The extra £1600 for the school you suggest doesn't take into account any staffing, resources or premises costs. £1600 is less than one term's fees for one child in most private schools so I really don't think many private schools have concocted this 'scam' in order to make what for them is a fairly minor amount of money. In fact I think the opposite is true, private schools often run these schemes at 'cost' in order to provide a service to working parents.